Community Reforestation in Rural Northern Malawi

Reversing climate change and improving the environment through Reforestation and C onservation activities in northern Malawi.

Our goal is to plant 2 million trees each year and our long-term is to plant 6 million by 2023

To achieve this target we are working together in our community with youth in schools, churches, local leaders, and others institution.

We started this group in the year 2009 when we were 20 members at Livingstonia Vungu vungu village. Due to awareness of our activities, we are now 105 members and our Target is 800 members by 2025.

Total trees planted since 2009, 2.5 million trees

Introduction

Forests provide clean air, traditional medicine , food and fuel woods, They also protect the soil from erosion, and provides biodiversity and habitats for animals and birds.

Forests are also a source of income to individuals and Communities while helping to mitigate climate change by reduce carbon dioxide in the air and lowering temperatures.

Background

In the 1980s in Phoka community we had a very beautiful woodland in villages, our community was a very beautiful place. Our hills were very nice, full of wildlife and animals from Nyika National Park. It was very interesting to see very beautiful animals from Nyika National Park.

Phoka community tourism Areas were very attractive to people from Europe and other countries. The weather for our community was very good. Crops in our community were very productive and farmers were growing without chemical fertilizers. Our rivers were also full of ecosystems.

Rules were present for protecting environment. Local leaders were trained every month how to protect the environment in our community. Woodlots were organised by village head mans. In the dry season there were a lot of awareness meetings for how to protect woodlots from fire.

Sadly Phoka is now bare of all the beautiful woodlots, the Natural Forest has gone. We don't see animals now, no ecosystems in our rivers, there is a big shortage of natural fruits and Herbalists are complaining about shortage of natural herbs. There is now poor tourism and climate change leads poor development in our community, we have lost everything now.

It was because of this I, Lowani Msiska, and my youth group decided to act in order to reverse the situation. We decided that if we are not serious our community will become a desert by 2030.

The major drive of this loss is tree cutting, bushing fire carelessly, and bad farming culture.

That is why we started improving the environment in Phoka communities.

Our vision is to improve the environment in our community through Reforestation and conservation activities.

Our goal is to plant 2 million trees each year and our long-term is to plant 6 million by 2023 working together in our community with youth in schools, churches, local leaders, and others institution.

We need money to buy saplings,

5 saplings cost 1 USD

Opportunities

1 Present of united youth and women groups.

2. Well trained leaders on Reforestation and conservation activities.

3. Availability of more water and land for free.

4. Forest materials in shops.

5. Power.

Challenges

1. Donor support.

2. High expensive of materials.

3. Lack of trainings for maintaining our skills.

4. Transport.

Hopefully together with your donation we will change our community and we will protect our mother planet and preparing a better future for our younger generation.

Thank you all.