To address environmental degradation affecting Soche Hill, communities in the area of Traditional Nsomba have tightened by laws to stop wanton harvesting of trees and established nurseries to undertake wide scale tree planting.

The motivation to review the bylaws and decisions to establish nurseries are courtesy of a 9-month Enhanced Public Works Program (EPWP) being carried out by the National Local Government Finance Committee.

One of the EPWP) beneficiaries in Kajombo Catchment Bettie Chigwetsa told this Newsletter that the area experiences erratic rainfall and infertile soils because of loss of trees in the hill and surrounding areas.

Chigwetsa said that after learning the importance of trees through several trainings that the project offered, communities have established nurseries with over 20, 000 seedlings in readiness of tree planting.

“We are ready and there is no turning back because we have suffered enough. We want to start a new life where our households will be food secure with a beautiful environment,” said Chigwetsa.

On her part, Maria Supuni, one of the foremen in the catchment committee, said their committee in collaboration with chiefs and community policing have set up strict measures to curb needless tree harvesting in the catchment area.

Supuni said, “Anyone found cutting down trees in the catchment will be punished according to our by-laws which among others include payment of a goat to the chief. However, I doubt if we shall have more of these cases as everyone has been taught to own the project”

Agriculture Extension Development Coordinator for Ntonda Extension Planning Area (EPA), Thoko Mwape, said:

“A number of tree varieties such as Baobab will be planted not only in the hill but also beneficiaries’ farms as leaves of Baobab tree also act as manure, thereby ensuring bumper harvest and improved people's livelihoods.”

The eight-month long pilot project which is being facilitated by the National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC) with funding from World Bank is being implemented in ten districts of Chitipa, Karonga, Nkhotakota, Kasungu, Dowa, Lilongwe, Balaka, Chiradzulu, Phalombe and Blantrye.

The project focus includes integrated watershed management (IWM) covering sub-projects such as land resource conservation, afforestation, environment and road infrastructure as well as sustainable livelihoods.