As one way of mitigating the impact of climate change which resulted in the loss of over 2,000 lives last year through cyclone Freddy, Old Mutual Malawi Limited in partnership with Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi (WESM) has planted 2,000 trees at Michiru Forest Reserve in Blantyre.
The exercise in Michiru comes barely days after Old Mutual carried another tree planting exercise at Malingunde Dam in Lilongwe and Mudi catchment area.
Speaking in an interview with the press after the exercise Old Mutual Malawi Group Chief Executive Officer Edith Jiya said the company is always concerned with the challenges its customers are going through as a result of climate change hence the initiative.
Jiya then hailed villagers living around Michiru Forest Reserve for putting up strong by-laws aimed at protecting the forest.
“We have heard the by-laws that the community around Michiru Forest have put in place aimed at protecting the environment. This is has encouraged us that the work we are doing here today will be sustainable. They have told us that they have actually asked individual families and communities to have their own forest in-order to avoid or to manage environmental degradation that is happening in Michiru. This is very commendable initiative and we are proud of it,” said Jiya.
She then urged well-meaning Malawians to take part in re-afforestation exercise.
On his part WESM Environmental Education and Communications Manager Osward Bonongwe hailed Old Mutual for taking a leading role in afforestation exercise.
Bonongwe also hailed villagers for a warm reception by developing a heart of ownership.
Old Mutual is scheduled to plant 10, 000 trees in this year’s tree planting season which was launched last month by President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera under the theme: “Forest Innovation in Action: Reforestation for a Sustainable Tomorrow”.
