Raiply Plans To Dress 1,000 Hectares Of Vipya Plantation

Raiply Malawi Limited plans to plant over 1000 hectares in the Vipya Plantation this year in line with the international and local forest management guidelines, as well as the objectives set at the just-ended Dubai COP 28.

The country’s largest wood manufacturing company says planting trees is an important step toward mitigating climate change and promoting sustainable forest management.

Speaking during a media visit to Chikangawa Forest, Raiply Malawi Limited’s forestry manager, Nathaniel Nthara said increasing forest cover have numerous environmental benefits, including carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, and promotion of sustainable livelihoods.

“We have planted more than 1000 tree seedlings at our Champhoyo and Chawuteka Nurseries, land clearing and pitting are already done waiting for the rains to necessitate planting,” Nthara said.

However, Raiply Limited’s chief forester lamented the increase in number of harmful bushfires since 1999 when the company signed forest management concession agreement which he said have over the years rise destroying more than 1000 hectares last year alone.

Meanwhile, impeccable sources have confirmed that the government’s issuing of permits to non-concessionaires to harvest trees in the plantation has brought about numerous challenges.

The major highlight is the one leading to the harvesting of immature trees affecting concessionaires’ harvesting strategy which may in the long run lead to uncontrollable soil erosion.

Recently, the government gave a permit to Chilengedwe Women Grouping to harvest Compartment 214C, a decision which Raiply Limited challenged in Court by obtaining an injunction restraining the women grouping from continuing with the tree harvesting.

Deputy Director of Forest, Ted Kamoto has always refused to comment on the matter stating that doing so will be in contempt of Court.

Speaking in Lilongwe on Friday, Minister of Natural Resources and Climate change, Michael Usi who led the Malawi delegation to COP28 held in Dubai recently, says a number of development partners have committed to provide financial support for various climate change mitigation interventions.

Usi said among others, the Scottish government is providing 1.25 million British pounds (about K2.6 Billion) loss and damage package to the Malawi government to go directly to those affected by natural disasters such as cyclone Freddy.

“The African Development Bank has shown interest to provide funding for the construction of a hydropower station and a Multipurpose dam on Tanzania’s Songwe River basin projected to cost USD1 Billion,” Usi said.

Malawi and Tanzania are expected to be producing 180.2 megawatts of electricity at the power plant to be shared equally.