The corona virus pandemic has given rise to the country’s first virtula Run4Reforestation race to highlight massive loss of trees in Zomba Mountain. The annual race to Ku Chawe on the country’s tallest plateau, returns next week, but without the crowds see on the battered trails of the endangered tourist attraction for the past two years.
Instead, the organisers of the growing sporting event urge all participants to keep their distance by joining an oline race between September 5 and 12.
The thrid homage to Zomba Plateau requires both competitive and fun runners to run the race distance of the 21 kilometres around their own safe space and submit their time online.
The localise activities away from Zomba Mountain will allow more people across the country and abroad to participate in raising funds for the protection of once lush forests, says Run4Reforestation founder Petal Wimbush.
“While the challenges of covid-19 mean that it isn’t practical to bring people together on the plateau fro the event this year, we hope this virtual approach will allow more people to connect with the event and play their part,” he says.
The race raises funds for the Zomba Treez to plant and safeguard trees around the plateau inctreasingly losing forests to summer fires, illegal logging and cooking using firewood.
Deforestation threatens conservation of the main source of portable water for Zomba City and sourrounding districts.
The mountain is also the catchment of the Lake Chilwa Basin which sustains livelihoods of thousands of farmers, fishers, bird hunters and tour guides in Zomba, Machinga and Phalombe as well as the neighnouring Mozambique.
This run4Reforestation organisers encourage people elsewhere to get involved in the race and raise awareness on environmental issues by running, jogging, walking or ‘plogging’ – picking litter while jogging.
“For Run4Reforestation 2020 we’re calling on everybody to keep your distance and make a difference,” Wmbush said.
Participants are required to send photos and screen shots from their run from running apps after the race.
Last year’s edition included the sustainability fair where individuals and organisations showcased their innovative strategies to safeguard trees.
Source: The Nation_Thursday, Septmber 3, 2020_By James Chavula