Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi (WESM) has called on media institutions and other stakeholders in Nkhotakota to spread effective and strategic messages that will assist to promote tourism activities across the district.

Speaking during a learning visit to appreciate Chia Lagoon Community Waterbird project at Traditional Authority Kalimanjira in the district on Monday, WESM Programmes Manager, Blessings Chingagwe said the project is improving the livelihoods of communities surrounding Chia Lagoon ranging from getting food, and money among other resources besides assisting in conserving wildlife like birds and fish.

Chingagwe asked the media and other partners like private companies to take a leading role in promoting tourism that can help the country get foreign currencies from guests who patronise.

“Media is very important to us as it promotes eco-tourism. So as we work with lodges and hotels in Nkhotakota, we encourage the media to spread the messages that promote eco-tourism in the district,” said Chingagwe.

Nkhotakota District Environmental Officer, Jane Kaira has hailed the relationship which is there between WESM and communities surrounding Chia Lagoon saying this has helped to ease the work of conserving the environment in the district.

Meanwhile, Traditional Authority Kalimanjira of the district has commended WESM for implementing the Chia Lagoon Community Waterbird project in his area saying the initiative has assisted to restore some of the endangered wildlife as compared to how the situation was in the past.

He asked organisations that are working to conserve wildlife to also consider improving the welfare of communities surrounding their catchment areas by providing them with loans to buy farm inputs saying this can help to reduce challenges of environmental destruction.