Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining has stressed the need for continued efforts in tree planting in order to avert effects of environmental degradation. 

Public Relations Officer in the ministry, Sangwani Phiri, made the call as Malawi joins the global community in commemorating the International Day of Forests on Wednesday.

Phiri said the Malawi is facing challenges such as water shortage and global warming among others due to destruction of the green environment hence the call.

“In our local cities we have observed that for quite a long time not much attention has been given to the process of planting trees,” he said.

Phiri also added that cities which have enough forest can help to neutralize carbon dioxide produced by animals and people.

He urged everyone in cities to at least plant one or two trees so that people should be able to find shelter, nutritious fruits and also the trees to cleanse air.

This year’s World Day of Forests is being commemorated under the theme “forests and sustainable cities”.