MDF plants trees to restore forests in Kasungu District

Malawi Defence Force (MDF) Engineers Battalion in Kasungu has joined other institutions in planting trees in the district in the ongoing National Forestry Season to restore degraded landscapes. The battalion targets to plant more than 10 000 trees within its military catchment and surrounding communities. Speaking on Saturday at Mziza Primary School in Traditional Authority Njombwa, Engineers Battalion commanding officer Desmond Sikelo said forests are important to MDF operations, including training and overall operational efficiency.

He said forests also provide environmental protection against climate-related shocks such as floods; hence, the need for the battalion to actively participate in conservation efforts. “Soldiers depend on forests for daily operations, including training. This has prompted the battalion to take part in environmental conservation while enhancing landscape restoration within our premises and surrounding communities,” said Sikelo.

In his remarks, Senior Chief Njombwa attributed environmental degradation in his area to lack of coordination among stakeholders involved in forestry conservation. He called for collaboration among and enforcement of community by-laws to safeguard natural resources. Movement for Environmental Action team leader Mathews Malata, whose organisation supported the MDF, asked for collaboration among stakeholders to protect forests. The 2025/26 National Forestry Season runs from December 15 2025 to April 15 2026 targeting to plant at least 41 million trees nationwide under the theme ‘Trees and forests for community resilience’.