As a move to ensure that the environment is being cared, Chitipa District Council has asked its residents to plant more trees.

Chitipa district council chairperson Wedson Sinkhonde said trees have the capability of transforming landscape and improving the livelihoods.

He spoke this as guest of honour during the launch of the district’s tree planting season at Ishalikira primary school in the area of Traditional Authority Mwaulambya in the district.

He advised parents and teachers to teach their children and learners to observe tree planting culture in order to combat some climate issues.

“Planting and taking care of trees should be taken as everyone’s responsibility because climate change effects like shortage of rains, and drought are affecting all of us in one way or the other,” he said.

District Forest Officer for Chitipa Moses Chilongo said about 500 trees of seedlings were planted during the launch at Ishalikira primary School and said the launch was targeting primary school learners in order to teach them about trees and forests conservation.

“The reasons of choosing primary schools is because the youths form a majority of Malawi’s population by 65 percent so we need to train them that when they go to their respective homes they can also continue the activities of planting trees,” said Chilongo.

Village headman Nachimphu said it was crucial for everyone take tree planting as a habit saying without trees people would suffer a lot therefore he pleaded with all community members to take it upon themselves to care for trees and forests.