Government for greener Dzalanyama
The government has renewed its commitment to restore Dzalanyama Forest Reserve in Lilongwe.
Secretary to the Government Colleen Zamba led a joint tree planting exercise on Friday at Katete Farm in Senior Chief Masumbankhunda.
Zamba recalled that the government declared Dzalanyama area as a forest reserve in 1922 to protect natural environment.
This is the area that the Lilongwe Water Board-LWB now uses as water catchment area for water supply in the capital city and surrounding areas.
According to Zamba, the OPC, Ministry of Natural Resources and LWB has agreed to annually plant trees within the catchment area to restore the lost forest cover.
Over the years, Dzalanyama forest has suffered massive deforestation due to wanton cutting down of trees mainly for charcoal production.
LWB Chairperson Chief M’mbelwa said they intend to plant over 200,000 indigenous seedlings during this tree planting season.