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| Bonongwe presenting the materials to one of CBOs representative |
Blantyre branch Wesm coordinator Ausward Bonongwe made the commitment mid last week when he donated tree seeds, watering cans, shovels and rakes to community-based organizations (CBOs) operating in the district with assistance from Pan African Civic Educators Network (Pacenet).
Bonongwe said it is imperative that people actively participate in this year’s national tree planting season by planting trees along river banks and any other plain areas as one of the mechanisms for averting effects climate change.
“Planting trees is one of the best ways to fight climate change, fight poverty, desertification and deforestation. Our organization is ready to offer support to any community, which intends to participate in these initiatives. We exist to help in building capacity for CBOs dealing in environmental issues,” he said.
But Bonongwe lamented that although people are suffering the effects of global warming, many regard the issue as an abstract.
“Very few people have taken a step aimed at reversing the situation. It is now time that everyone should a role in mitigating the effects of climate change by planting trees,” he said.
In his remarks, Assistant District Forestry Officer Victor Chiwalo said the district was going through the worst desertification ever due to over-population, which has led people in encroaching river banks and forests in search of farmland.
“More trees are cut when landless people are clearing land in the river banks and forests to make way for farming. Thyolo used to be a cool place when we had trees; but now we are experiencing very hot temperatures because we’ve left our land bare,” Chiwalo said.
He then thanked Wesm and Pacenet for the donation, saying it will go a long way in reducing the effects of climate change in the long run.
Bonongwe warned his organization will confiscate the materials in the event of abuse and misuse of the donations
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