The Youth Initiative for Community Development has trained members of Village Natural Resources Management Committees (VNRMC) under three Group Village Heads (GVHs) of Fosa, Kachere, and Mkhoma Wanthu in traditional authority Kachere, Dedza district.
The two-day training equipped these VNRMC members with skills on how to lead in natural resource conservation and management in their respective villages and their roles.
Speaking during the training, Esita Lodzanyama, a member of the Mkhoma Wanthu VNRMC, said the training was an eye-opener as it enlightened them on how to collaborate with different stakeholders in environmental conservation.
“As you know, in each group village head out of three, there are two tree nurseries established, and tree seeds were sown. Once the seedlings are ready to be planted, we need to ensure they are planted and cared for. It’s our responsibility to conserve the forests by caring for the natural regenerations so that they can grow. Additionally, we must protect the rivers, especially considering that sand mining is causing our rivers to dry up early,” she explained.
In his remarks, Cosmas Sesani, Assistant Forestry Officer under Lobi Extension Planning Area in Dedza district, advised the members to take climate change seriously and help their villages build resilience for the rights-holders.
“We hope that our department will work closely with these committees to ensure the conservation of natural resources here. We want to see this area become vegetated, with trees, as each GVH will have a woodlot,” he said.
