31 honorary forest officers trained in Eastern Province

31 Honorary Forest Officers (HFOs) have been trained under the World Bank-funded Eastern Province Jurisdiction Sustainable Landscape Programme (EPJSLP). The officers, drawn from Lusangazi, Nyimba and Katete districts, have been equipped with skills to sensitise communities on…

31 Honorary Forest Officers (HFOs) have been trained under the World Bank-funded Eastern Province Jurisdiction Sustainable Landscape Programme (EPJSLP).

The officers, drawn from Lusangazi, Nyimba and Katete districts, have been equipped with skills to sensitise communities on natural resource conservation, build capacity in forest management, conduct patrols and arrest people contravening laws governing the protection and management of natural resources.

Speaking during the graduation ceremony, Petauke District Commissioner Wachepa Phiri said the trained officers would provide much-needed support to the Forestry Department in combating activities driving deforestation and climate change.

Mr Phiri said forests in Eastern Province were under immense pressure from illegal charcoal production, unsustainable timber harvesting, agricultural expansion and the cutting of trees for tobacco curing.

“Our forests are under immense pressure here in Eastern Province. We face severe challenges from illegal charcoal production, unsustainable timber harvesting, rapid agricultural expansion and cutting of trees for tobacco curing. These activities drive deforestation and accelerate the harsh realities of climate change. It is our communities and livelihoods that suffer the consequences,” he said.

Mr Phiri said Government recognised that the Forestry Department could not address the challenges alone, hence the need to strengthen its capacity through the training of HFOs.

Meanwhile, EPJSLP Petauke District Project Officer Chipango Lukungu said the training was aimed at equipping the officers with skills to manage Community Forest Management Groups (CFMGs) and promote the regeneration and sustainability of forests.

Ms. Lukungu said the officers would also sensitise communities on forest conservation and management and help establish support structures involving traditional and community leadership.

And Nyimba District Commissioner Paul Daka, who was among the trained HFOs, urged his fellow officers to uphold integrity and avoid engaging in activities that undermine their mandate.

Mr Daka warned that involvement in charcoal burning and illegal timber harvesting would compromise their credibility and undermine efforts to combat deforestation and climate change.

“We have been engaged by Government to make sure we assist our brothers and sisters in the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment so that at the end of the day we have a very sustainable environment,” he said.

The media reports that EPJSLP aims to strengthen the protection and conservation of natural resources within Community Forest Management Groups in the chiefdoms of Lusangazi, Nyimba and Katete districts.