Bishop Reverend Brighton Vitta Malasa of Anglican Diocese of Upper Shire on Friday [22 January, 2021] launched the diocesan tree planting exercise in the area of Sub – Traditional Authority (STA) Phalula in Balaka district under the stewardship of Church and Community Integrated Project.
Diocesan Projects Officer, Victor Mnelemba explained that the exercise targets to plant 5,000 trees as part of the contribution to the National Forestry Season that was launched last year in Nkhata- Bay.
"This year, we would like to plant 5,000 species of trees in different parishes. We have so far planted in Lisungwi Parish. We also intend to plant in Likwenu, Masuku and Chimwala Parishes," Mnelemba explained citing the list of sites planned for tree planting exercise.
"Before embarking on tree planting exercise, we work hand in hand with community members to ensure that they should own the initiative and take care of trees after planting," he said adding that, "as such there is an agreement between church and community and in some cases with schools depending on the land we have used to plant the trees. So, the responsibility of taking care of the trees is given to the beneficiaries," he provided insight to the arrangement.
He added that they have put a number of measures to ensure that the newly planted trees survive.
"Before embarking on tree planting exercise, we work hand in hand with community members to ensure that they should own the initiative and take care of trees after planting," he said adding that, "as such there is an agreement between church and community and in some cases with schools depending on the land we have used to plant the trees. So, the responsibility of taking care of the trees is given to the beneficiaries," he provided insight to the arrangement.
Taking his turn, Reverend Malasa urged people in the country to complement governments' efforts and other stakeholders' in conserving the environment. " As a church, we will continue planting trees. We urge all Malawians to also plant trees now as part of the forestry season," Malasa made the appeal. STA Phalula hailed the Diocesan leadership for the initiative and promised to woo communities to take care of the newly planted trees.
The diocese has Parishes located in Mangochi, Balaka, Neno, Mwanza, Zomba, Machinga, Dedza, Ntcheu and Chiradzulu districts.
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