LCC UNVEILS AMBITIOUS PLAN TO RAISE 10 MILLION SEEDLINGS FOR GREEN LILONGWE

Lilongwe City is set to regain its green status following plans by the Lilongwe City Council to scale up seedling production from under 100,000 to 10 million by 2028.

Chief Executive Officer Clement Stambuli disclosed the new target on Friday during an engagement with the Association of Environmental Journalists (AEJ) in Lilongwe, saying the initiative will be driven through a modern, state-of-the-art nursery.

According to Stambuli, the 10 million seedlings will be split with 4 million dedicated to greening areas within the city boundaries, while the remaining 6 million will support restoration efforts across Lilongwe District.

He noted with concern that most parts of the capital that were once known for thick vegetation have been depleted, calling for urgent collective action to replant trees along roadsides, homes and public spaces.

Mayor Peter Alex Banda concurred, warning against ceremonial tree planting that ends on the day of planting. He said the city needs a long-term commitment where every planted tree is watered, protected and monitored to survive.

Banda further appealed for support in sourcing mature indigenous tree species, nursery infrastructure and technical skills, admitting that the Council’s current nursery cannot meet the demand for the entire city.

Association of Environmental Journalists representative Grace Kapatuka welcomed the plan and committed the media body to amplifying environmental stories, giving a voice to affected communities and mobilising citizens, government, the private sector and faith groups to make the green city agenda a success.