MESSI Targets 2 Million Trees
By Francis Maingaila ♥️
Lusaka, Zambia24 — (Thursday, January 29), 2026 — The Mupapa Environmental and Social Sustainability Initiative (MESSI) on Thursday completed the planting of at least 2,500 trees at Mwembeshi Open Air Prison, as the organisation announced an ambitious plan to plant two million trees across Zambia within the next two years in a major push to combat deforestation, restore degraded land and strengthen climate resilience.
The tree-planting exercise, conducted in partnership with prison authorities and community stakeholders, forms part of MESSI’s broader environmental strategy aimed at addressing the rapid loss of forest cover while promoting rehabilitation, environmental stewardship and sustainable land use in public institutions.
Speaking during the exercise, MESSI Director Ruth Chande Ironside said the Mwembeshi activity was both symbolic and practical, demonstrating how environmental restoration can be integrated into correctional facilities while contributing to national climate action goals.
Ironside explained that while the planting of 2,500 trees at Mwembeshi marked an important milestone, it was only the beginning of a much larger national programme that would be rolled out over the next two years.
“What we are doing here today is part of a wider vision. Our target is to plant two million trees within two years, working with government institutions, correctional facilities, communities and the private sector to reverse deforestation and build climate resilience,” Ironside said.
She noted that Zambia continues to lose significant forest cover annually due to charcoal production, illegal logging and land conversion.
She warned that failure to scale up reforestation efforts would worsen the effects of climate change, including erratic rainfall, soil erosion and declining agricultural productivity.
Ironside further stressed that planting trees in prison facilities such as Mwembeshi also plays a rehabilitative role by equipping inmates with practical environmental skills and instilling a sense of responsibility toward natural resource management.
“Environmental sustainability must be inclusive. By involving inmates, we are not only restoring degraded land but also contributing to skills development and behavioural change,” she said.
Prison authorities at Mwembeshi Open Air Prison welcomed the initiative, describing it as a positive intervention that supports rehabilitation programmes while improving the prison’s environment and surrounding ecosystem.
Officials said the trees planted include a mix of indigenous and climate-resilient species selected to improve soil quality, provide shade and enhance long-term ecological sustainability.
MESSI has since called on government ministries, local authorities, traditional leaders and the private sector to support the two-million-tree target through coordinated planning, resource mobilisation and long-term maintenance of planted trees to ensure high survival rates.
The initiative aligns with Zambia’s broader climate commitments, including efforts to promote reforestation, sustainable land management and community-driven climate solutions in the face of increasing environmental pressure.
Meanwhile, Zambia Correctional Service Head of Agroforestry Kasanga Francis said deforestation continued to pose serious threats to biodiversity, food security, water availability, and energy production.
“Deforestation leads to soil erosion, water insecurity, displacement of people, and reduced hydropower generation. Trees take between 40 and 50 years to mature, which means the decisions we make today will affect future generations,” Francis said.
He added that the Zambia Correctional Service was piloting agroforestry and fodder production programmes within correctional facilities to promote sustainable land use while supporting livestock during dry seasons.
“We must develop a culture of conservation that starts with individuals and institutions. Conservation is not optional if we are to secure our future,” he said.
Mwembeshi Open Air Prison Officer-in-Charge Wakunguma Siyomunji described the initiative as a sustainable programme that required consistent financial, technical, and institutional support to ensure long-term success.
“This is not a short-term project. People involved in growing indigenous trees depend on this work for their livelihood, and the plants must be maintained long after planting,” Siyomunji said.
He noted that favourable rainfall had supported early establishment of the newly planted trees and assured that the prison, working with correctional officers and inmates, would continue watering and managing the plants beyond the rainy season.
Comments
Post a Comment