By Yamikani Yapuwa
Thyolo District Council intends to plant over one million trees in the 2025/2026 National Forestry Season to restore forest cover thereby improving rainfall pattern in the district.
Thyolo District Commissioner, Noel Dakamau, disclosed this on Wednesday when the district launched forestry season.
He said the exercise is in line with the National Forestry Season launch which Second Vice President, Enock Chihana, presided over on January 16 at Mpata Primary School in Phalombe.
Dakamau said the district has so far secured over 1,060,000 seedlings from government and development partners, and more than 500,000 trees seedlings have already been planted.
“We target plant over one million trees. Beyond planting, our focus is on ensuring a high survival rate. If it is not 100 percent, it should be above 90 percent.
“The trees we are using today were planted by our fathers and forefathers. If we do not plant trees today, our children and grandchildren will suffer. We want to move away from business as usual to real action,” he said.He said failure to care for the planted trees would render the exercise meaningless.
Dakamau observed that Thyolo, once known for receiving reliable rainfall, is now facing erratic weather pattern, prolonged dry spells and strong winds, conditions he linked to deforestation out of irresponsible human activities.
“We used to experience good rainfall but forest cover has been depleted. We need to bring back trees and restore the environment we once enjoyed,” he said.
Senior Chief Nchiramwera appealed to communities across the district to take care of the trees, saying restoring vegetation would help improve rainfall pattern and protect the soil from erosion.
“I am encouraging the whole of Thyolo to plant trees so that we receive good rains,” he said.
He, therefore, urged people to engage in soil conservation practices such as contour ridging, saying proper land management supports tree growth and prevents soil erosion.
He noted that in the past, estates and surrounding areas had abundant trees, that contributed to good weather conditions, lamenting destruction of forests in the district.
“My appeal is that everyone should take responsibility to care for the environment. Even now, some people are still cutting down trees; this must stop,” he said.
Thyolo District Council Chairperson, George Jailosi, called upon people in the district to actively participate in tree planting beyond the launch.
“When people return to their homes, they should continue planting trees. We must restore and maintain our environment,” Jailosi said.
National Forestry season runs from December 15, 2025 to April 15, 2026.
