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Hikers Alliance Group Embarks on Tree Planting Exercise to Restore Deforested Land
Hikers Alliance planted trees to restore deforested land at Malawi University of Science and Technology.
Malawi- The Hikers Alliance Group embarked on a tree planting exercise at the Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) on March 3, 2023, with the aim of providing ground cover to deforested land, writes Mustafa Makumba.
The group's core aims are to promote tourism through hiking and ensure that the environment is taken care of.
Austin Mndolo, team leader of Hikers Alliance, said their aim is to make Malawi green again as deforestation has caused climate change in the country.
"It is our collective responsibility as a citizenry to contribute to the environmental efforts in our country in restoring, protecting, and sustainably using and managing natural resources in support of the government. The government cannot do this on its own, they need our support," says Mndolo.
The group has planted over 10,000 tree seedlings in Blantyre, Chiradzulu, Zomba and Thyolo districts. Mndolo says their group takes full responsibility to ensure trees reach their maturity stage.
"We have among the team a committee that follows up these exercises. The team makes sure trees are taken care of and no carelessness is happening in those lands. So far, we have some good forests in Blantyre and Chirazulu, and in many areas where we did this exercise, the trees managed to survive," says Mndolo.
The group faces financial and material hindrances but finds ways to survive. "We need a strong partner or financial muscle to fulfil the activity. It involves a lot of work, including the purchase of trees, transportation, labour for digging holes, and maintenance, which we cannot manage on our own," says Mndolo.
According to Chifundo Tenthani, vice leader of the group, the group gets its funding from its members and the corporate world.
This year, the group partnered with the southern region water board, Team Adventure Malawi, Malawi Gaming, and the lottery board, among others.
The group has called on all well-wishers to partner with them so their aim of ensuring the restoration of the environment is accomplished.
Meanwhile, the group will resume its 2023 hiking and fitness program in March. It summits the highest Mulanje mountain every year in October.
"The idea is to maintain a healthy membership by encouraging members to exercise through hiking while also becoming responsible citizens who spread the word about various social challenges such as environmental conservation, and gender-based violence, among others," says Tenthani.
The Hikers Alliance group was established in 2019 and has a membership of 300 participants in Malawi and abroad.