Youth Net and Counselling (YONECO) has challenged young people to take part in conserving the environment by among other things planting trees in a bid to mitigate the effects of climate change.

YONECO’s Executive Director MacBain Mkandawire made the remarks on Thursday in Zomba when the organization planted trees around its premises.

Mkandawire said young people have a big role to play in planting trees as they are energetic and can take care of the trees until they grow.

Led by Mkandawire and dressed in T-shirts written ‘Go green keep it clean’ members of Mapale youth club sung songs castigating those who aimlessly cut down trees.

Some of the songs contained messages encouraging people to plant trees while some had messages on the dangers of cutting down trees including floods and shortage of rainfall.

Secretary for Mapale youth club, Nelly Ligomeka encouraged fellow youths to plant more trees in their areas.

Taking his turn, Zomba forestry assistant officer, Patrick Makupete said the initiative will help conserve the environment in the district which will help in dealing with the impact of climate change around Lake Chilwa which dries up during hot season.

On his part, Zomba city deputy mayor, Davie Maunde hailed YONECO for the initiative saying it will go a long way in refining the environment and reducing the impacts of climate change in the district

YONECO is championing a Go Green campaign which has seen people using other sources of energy thereby conserving the environment.

Under the Go Green project, YONECO plans to plant three thousand trees during this year’s national tree planting season.

This year’s theme is “plant and manage trees, to secure water food and environment.