Families Adopting Forests in Nkhotakota, Malawi
Amid calls for Malawians to take care of trees, an initiative whereby families adopt forests has proven to be effective in saving trees in Nkhotakota.
As one way of sustaining forests in Nkhotakota district, families are adopting natural forests with the aim of protecting them from people who may want to be cutting down trees wantonly.
Some of the forests that are family owned are Mtunda, Boma, Msooya and Magaisa individual forests in NKhandwe village, Traditional Authority Malengachanzi in the district.
Speaking in an interview with Malawi24, one of the family members of Mtunda Jackson said owning the forest is really helping to conserve trees since no one is allowed to cut the trees.
According to Jackson, with support from Total Land Care the exercise is made possible because they are equipped with skills on how to take care of the forests.
“The skills that Total Land Care equip us with are really helping to maintain the number of trees in the forest. Some years ago people were just cutting trees carelessly but now whoever is found doing that faces a penalty,” Jackson said.
He also said that per year they make sure to plant additional trees and make fire breaks.
Global Conservation