District Forestry  officer, Henry Kagulo, disclosed this on Thurday during a district forestry season launch at Vyivya Primary school in the area of Chief Njombwa in.

“The launch marks the beginning of serious afforestation interventions at district level. We would want to plant 4.9 million trees this year,” he said.

On his part, Councilor Christopher Kamtambo demanded of the people the desire to go beyond tree-planting but also allow their regeneration of in existing forests.

“The country is already paying the effects of climate change due to serious deforestation. But we can still do something about this,” said Kamtambo.

Kasungu District Education Manager, Rabson Kawalala, who represented the DC during the event, observed that the best time to plant and care for trees was now.

“If we wipe all trees, we would have problems getting firewood for energy, the oxygen we breath and many other benefits,” he said.

The 2019-2020 tree planting season is being conducted under the theme Trees and Forests for transformed landscapes and livelihoods.

The national launch was led by President Peter Mutharika in December last year.