IUCN Africa’s Regional Head of Land Systems congratulates Malawi’s efforts in FLR
By Ange de la Victoire DUSABEMUNGU
Charles Karangwa, IUCN Rwanda Country Representative who is also Regional Head of Land Systems at IUCN Africa, covering Forests, Sustainable Agriculture and Drylands has commended Malawi’s efforts in Forests and Landscape Restoration.
The restoration interventions in Malawi are implemented as part of the ‘Large-Scale Forest Landscape Restoration in Africa’, a regional project that targets four countries: Rwanda, Kenya, Cameroon and Malawi for forest landscape restoration.
Pressure on natural resources, particularly forests, is very high in Malawi because of the increasing reduction of land available for agriculture, increasing energy requirements and conflicts related with land use.
To address this problem, in Malawi, projects are being implemented to restore forests and landscape while at the same time improving agriculture.
In Malawi, FAO is coordinating FLR implementation in close collaboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the World Resources Institute (WRI), and the World Bank.
According to Charles Karangwa “Malawi’s efforts to restore degraded lands is remarkable.”
Malawi’s efforts to conserve forests and land are inextricably similar to Rwanda’s. Both countries are actively involved in protecting the environment as a sustainable way to create and adapt to climate change.
A statement from the Ministry of Forestry and Natural Resources in Malawi revealed that the Country anticipates planting forty million trees as President Lazarus Chakwera is set to launch the 2021/22 tree planting in Dowa on 12th January 2022.
“Thanks to H.E LAZARUS CHAKWERA and Nancy Tembo for the leadership. No doubt Malawi will achieve the Bonn Challenge AFR100 commitment on time. Looking forward to joining you.” Charles Karangwa Twitted.
In the meantime, Malawi Ministry of Forestry and Natural Resources urges everyone to plant trees and carry out forestry activities that will enhance the growth and the survival of existing trees and natural regeneration.
Under the African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative (AFR100), Malawi committed in 2016 to restoration of 4.5 million ha in the country by 2030. The project supports achievement of this target under both the AFR100 and the Bonn Challenge. It also aligns with Malawi’s National Forest Landscape Restoration Strategy and National Charcoal Strategy (2017).
Malawi’s participation in this FLR initiative will advance Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15: Life on Land, and contribute to the achievement of SDG 2: Zero Hunger, SDG 5: Gender equality, SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 13: Climate Action and SDG 14: Life below Water.
