Nature Kit, a non-governmental Organisation (NGO) is training young people from secondary schools in Kasungu in environmental conservation.
In an interview, the organisation’s programmes coordinator Nebert Mtika said the youth will work as environmental leaders in their communities and schools.
He said: “The training includes out of school youths in the district. We want them to sensitise communities to issues of deforestation, climate change, conserving wildlife and safeguarding endangered animals such as elephants and pangolins.”
Thokozani Mapulanga, a trainee, said the acquired knowledge will help her to champion the goals of the project in her community. “One of the areas we will focus on is to encourage community members to keep their surroundings clean,” she said.
The organisation conducted the training with funding from 10 Billion Strong, Umunthu Movement Malawi and Caretakers of the Environmental International.
To conserve the environment, President Lazarus Chakwera launched a National Forestry Season at Tukombo Primary School Ground in Nkhata-Bay on December 16 2020.
He asked the private sector to adopt forest reserves in various communities to ensure the survival of trees. Chakwera urged citizens to assume responsibility in containing the growing deforestation in the country.
Malawi is losing forest cover at an alarming rate of about 32 000 hectares (ha) per year. The country goal is to restore 4.5 million ha of degraded forest landscape through tree planting, natural generation and improved land husbandry by 2030.
Source: The Nation_January 13, 2021_Yankho Phiri-Malawi News Agency