Ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Secretary General Eisenhower Mkaka on Friday led his constituents in Lilongwe Mpenu in tree planting exercise.
Mkaka, who is also Minister of Forestry and Natural Resources said this year the government and private individuals and organisations have set aside 4.5 million hectares for tree planting as the country faces unprecedented climate change partly due to deforestation due to wanton cutting of trees.
President Dr Lazarus Chakwera launched the tree planting season in Mangochi on December 15 , 2022.
Speaking during the function Mkaka urged his constituents to do the same saying trees are crucial in the human and natural ecosystem.
He said trees are the ultimate carbon capture and storage machines.
He said trees sinks carbon woods and forests absorb atmospheric carbon and lock it up for centuries. They do this through photosynthesis.
Mkaka said the entire woodland ecosystem plays a huge role in locking up carbon, including the living wood, roots, leaves, deadwood, surrounding soils and its associated vegetation.
He said trees prevent flooding, reduce city temperature, reduce pollution as well as keeps soil nutrient-rich.
Mkaka has since appealed to private sector to help with seedlings so that they can plant more trees in all the constituencies.