Livingstonia synod investsK10m in tree-planting

Livingstonia Synod of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian has unveiled a K10 million budget to plant at least 100 000 trees in Mzimba, Karonga and Rumphi districts during the current National Forestry Season. The synod’s general secretary the Reverend William Tembo said this on Thursday at Embangweni in Mzimba during the launch of the exercise. He said the church has taken a multi-stakeholder approach to ensure proper care for the growing trees.

Said Tembo: “We will make sure there is an oversight from all the stakeholders, including the church and the community on the care of trees. “The church decided to join the nation to plant trees because God gave man a mandate to take care of the environment he lives in.” Traditional Authority Mzukuzuku pledged to punish people who destroy forests. “We already have committees composed of traditional leaders that safeguard forest products.

Should I find anyone grazing their animals in or near our trees, by-laws will take their course,” he said. M’mbelwa District Council chairperson Joel Nkhata said the district needs forestry cover to avoid soil erosion. “Our land is degraded and this is an opportunity that it gets forestry cover,” he said.

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Vangalala Extension Planning Area forestry assistant Philip Lungu said care for the trees is everyone’s responsibility. “We always engage communities to own the trees and forests,” he said. Through its Development Department, the synod partnered NBS Bank to plant trees and distribute seedlings to households to boost the ownership spirit

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