Forestry officials in Mzuzu have admitted facing a daunting task to curb charcoal production in the Northern Region. The officials say most traders from Central and Southern regions have trekked up North because the region is still endowed with forestry cover. Speaking during Mzuzu City Council tree planting season launch on Friday in Mzuzu, deputy forestry zone manager (North) Alick Mitawa said limited resources make it difficult for them to deal with the challenge. He said his office needs more material and human resource to end the vice. He appealed to stakeholders to join government not only in planting trees, but also in protecting them.
“This is [Northern Region] where charcoal production is done at an alarming rate because people who were cutting trees for charcoal in the Central and Southern regions have come to the North and are producing charcoal,” he said.
Mzuzu City deputy Mayor Alexander Mwakikunga said there was need for government to find alternative sources of energy if charcoal production is to stop. “What government needs to do is to introduce cheaper means of fuel energy, but without that, it will be a big challenge to overcome charcoal production,” he said. This season, the Northern Region is expected to plant 9.1 million trees, according to Mitawa. President Peter Mutharika launched this year’s tree planting season on December 15 2018 at Malingunde in Lilongwe which will end in April this year.
(Source: The Nation Malawi, Monday, 28 January 2019)