Journalists have been described as key in spearheading initiatives aimed at restoring land degradation and environmental protection.
The sentiments were made during a media orientation on the Malawi Watershed Services Improvement Project-MWASIP and the Malawi Resilience and Disaster Risk Management Project.
Malawi is facing the negative effects of deforestation which has resulted in severe land degradation, a development that can lead to water scarcity in the near future if efforts are not taken to reverse the situation.
Speaking to MIJ Online on the sidelines of the media orientation, James Kumwenda -Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation technical team member for MWASIP project-said the project aims at restoring catchments within the shire river basin.
Kumwenda said the 6-year project-which is being funded with a $157 million credit from the World Bank and $3 million from the government of Malawi-is being carried out in 7 districts of the country.
“The project is being implemented through three components; scaling up land restoration, improving watershed services and technical management support. It aims at fixing the watershed crisis and severe land degradation.” Said Kumwenda
He has since emphasized the vital role the media plays in the success of the project in providing awareness and stakeholder engagements.
“So according to our project, we have the stakeholder’s engagement plan and when you look at this plan you find almost on each and every stakeholder we are to engage; one of the key stakeholders which is going through the profile is the media”. Kumwenda said
Kumwenda added that the media will be key in ensuring accountability and good information sharing throughout the project.