A civic leader in Chasefu district in Eastern Province has called on the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment to sensitive the community in the district on the issues of afforestation.

Susa Ward Councilor, Gondwe Malukuta said the Forestry Department should come on board and educate the community on the dangers of cutting down trees because many were doing the practice out of negligence.

He revealed that community members cut down big trunks of trees for charcoal and sell the commodity in neighbouring Malawi.

The Ward Councilor expressed concern that many people are cutting down trees to make money but were not aware of the negative impact the practice leaves on the environment.

Mr Malukuta observed that the practice of cutting down trees was already affecting the climate as the country was experiencing one of the worst dry spells since independence.                                        

He said it is not worth sacrificing natural resources for a bag or two of charcoal.

The civic leader mentioned that conserving forests will reduce climate change which in turn will improve the rainfall pattern and curb hunger through agriculture.