Forest restoration for biodiversity in Malawi

Co-management and collaboration 

Sharing responsibility for forest management can be a way of encouraging local communities to be involved in protecting the forest. In Mulanje, three areas of the reserve have been set up for 'co-management' between local committees and the department of forestry. With the indispensable help of committee members, WeForest set up permanent monitoring plots within each block, measuring tree sizes and heights as well as species distribution and diversity.  The plots aim to assess the state of the forest now and for the next ten years as we work on assisted natural regeneration of the indigenous Miombo woodland.

Nessa prepares for tree planting season

Nessa is one of eight community cedar nursery groups raising Mulanje cedar for restoration at the top of the mountain and as hedges at the foot. By July the nursery had 5,402 cedar seedlings all ready for planting with the early rains in 2020. 95,000 more seedlings are expected to be raised from 1.25kg of cedar recently sown. They’ve also raised 5,400 seedlings of other indigenous tree species by collecting saplings from the mountain and raising them in polythene tubes.

The Nessa members benefit from the sale of the tree seedlings. WeForest has purchased 14,000 pine seedlings they’ve raised, and the group is now aiming to raise 10,000 more after sowing 250 grams of pine.

Window of light

Uncharacteristic rains in Mulanje in the middle of the dry season: a welcome dousing on the prolific early fires on the slopes of the mountain. This view shows the clouds parting at sunset after an overcast day of drizzle, with the mountain emerging from the tea fields below.