By Tamandani Dzatopetsa
Malawi, known for its greenery, is losing its trees fast. In the past thirty years, the forests have shrunk from 41% to just 28%. People cutting down trees illegally, farming more land, and more people living in prohibited areas are the main reasons for this.
Land shaved clean in search for firewood
With trees going away Malawi’s biodiversity is at risk. On the other hand, it is more likely that the effects of climate change like erratic rains will be served to the nation. Animals and plants that live here are also in danger as soil erosion will be serving it's meal to Farmers leading to low agricultural production.
But people in Malawi are not giving up. They are working together to plant new trees and take care of the ones left. They are also teaching others why it's important to keep trees around. Their goal is to make Malawi green again.
The management at the University of Livingstonia Kaning’ina campus organized a tree planting exercise, an event that aimed to promote environmental sustainability and contribute to the green initiatives.
Making his remarks after the exercise, UNILIA Kaning’ina Campus Principal Rev. J.P.V Mwale said he will be happy to see 90 percent of the seedlings that have been planted survive, as it will be an achievement for the university.
Malawi is feeling strange weather because of climate change. Sometimes there's too much rain, causing floods and ruining homes and farms. Other times, it's too dry, making it hard for farmers to grow food.
On 24 February 2024, the weather in Malawi changed unexpectedly. People did not think it would rain, but it did. The rain caused a lot of problems. Many houses and roads got damaged. Places like Dwangwa and Nkhotakota got hit the worst. They got a lot of rain, which led into floods.
To deal with these changes, citizens are getting ready. They're setting up systems to warn people when bad weather is coming. Farmers are also learning new ways to grow crops that can handle strange weather.
Overton Mwafulirwa, a student at University Of Livingstonia Kaning'ina Campus studying Rural Agrarian Development, shared his views on deforestation. He stated that when there are no trees, there is a high chance of receiving more rain. This excess rain can destroy farmers' crops, leading to famine.
Save Phiri mentioned that trees are essential for development. They regulate local and regional climates by providing shade, reducing temperatures through evapotranspiration, and creating microclimates that support diverse flora and fauna.
Even though there are problems, Malawi is not giving up hope. People are working hard to make things better for the environment, deal with weird weather, and treat everyone fairly. Together, they're making Malawi a better place to live.
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