06 Jun
2006 - Lilongwe, Malawi – Findings of a recent
forest assessment in Malawi show increasing deforestation
rates and unsustainable exploitation of non-timber
forestry products in the country’s protected areas.
The report, which surveyed threats
to forests throughout the country’s protected
areas, indicates that logging and forest conversions
for agriculture are key drivers to the disappearance
of Malawi’s forests and deterioration of the country’s
national parks.
The assessment further revealed
that Malawi’s most biologically significant forests
in the country’s central region were the most
vulnerable. This was the case for forestry reserves
in Mangochi, Mulanje, Dedza and Salima. And, all
national parks have suffered various degrees of
encroachment. The worst affected are Lengwe followed
by Kasungu, Nkhotankhota and Nyika.
Malawi’s protected forests currently
cover 4.7 per cent of the country, while national
parks and wildlife reserves cover 11.6 per cent.
“The plight of Malawi’s forests
is further exacerbated by a poor management regime
on the part of the forest authorities,” said Mxolisi
Sibanda, a research fellow with WWF’s Miombo Ecoregion
Programme, who led the assessment.
“Management of forests in Malawi
is either very low or non-existent. The vulnerability
of important forests stems from inadequate law
enforcement, consumption demands on forestry products,
staffing problems in the government’s forestry
department and high levels of poverty among the
general populace.”
Agriculture has also been highlighted
as a growing threat to forests, particularly in
southern Malawi where droughts and flooding are
frequent. The assessment picks out Vwaza Marsh,
Nyika and Kasungu as the areas where national
parks are under pressure from agricultural expansion.
“A lot needs to be done quickly
to protect these forest areas,” Sibanda added.
“Funding for implementing management plans, staff
training and improved conditions of service are
all issues that need urgent attention.”
“Communities also need support
to develop a general appreciation for natural
resource conservation, especially those communities
that live in areas adjacent to the protected areas
and are looking for solutions to meet their basic
food requirements.”
The report concludes that the
Malawi government, donor agencies and other stakeholders,
including organizations like WWF, need to work
together in ensuring that protected areas in Malawi
are effectively managed for the benefit of the
country through tourism, sustainable utilization
and employment creation.
END NOTES:
• A sample of 20 forest protected areas and all
the country’s nine national parks and wildlife
Reserves were assessed. The Rapid Assessment and
Prioritization of Protected Area Methodology (RAPPAM)
was used for assessing management effectiveness
of Protected Areas in the country.
