Second Vice President Honourable Enock Chihana, on Friday, presided over the launch of the 2025/2026 tree planting season at Mpata Primary School in Phalombe District, under the theme “Trees and Forests for Community Resilience.”
The event marks a significant milestone in Malawi’s efforts to enhance environmental sustainability and community resilience.
Speaking during the event, Honourable Chihana asked relevant stakeholders to strengthen community awareness and local governance structures to halt illegal activities in the forest areas.
The second Vice President then reminded the Ministry of Natural Resources that it has a mandate of conserving, managing and protecting forest reserves in Malawi, adding that it should make sure that the required staff and equipment are provided to do the work and reclaim the damaged areas.
“Let me take this opportunity to thank our cooperating partners, both bilateral and multilateral, Traditional Leaders, Civil Society Organisations, Corporate World, Communities, Academia, Political Leaders and everyone else for the continued support you render to the government in natural resources management.
“Together, we can make a difference and ensure that our trees and forests continue to provide for us and future generations. You will recall that as a country, we committed to restoring 4.5 million hectares of degraded landscapes by 2030 through the Bonn Challenge.
“However, our trees and forests are facing unprecedented threats from deforestation, degradation, and climate change. The consequences of inaction are severe, with devastating impacts on our environment, economy, and livelihoods, but I am confident that with collective effort, we can achieve it,” he said.
On his part, Minister of Natural Resources Honourable Alfred Gangata MP said the success of the effort in the restoration of trees and forests entirely depends on the active participation of every person in Malawi.
Honourable Gangata has called for urgent action to restore trees and forests for community resilience.
He stressed that the goal is not only to plant trees but also to create a sustainable environment that benefits all Malawians.
The minister added that there is a need to promote sustainable land and tree management practices to achieve a green Malawi.
“This year's theme is: Trees and Forests for Community Resilience. Core to the theme is the need to plant and take care of our trees and forests so that they continue to enhance household and community resilience to climate change,” said the Minister.
