The Dzalanyama Forest Reserve

Dzalanyama Forest Reserve has a pivotal role in the ecology and has contributed significantly to the wealth and welfare of the Malawian societies. The forest products both timber and non timber from Dzalanyama Forest Reserve have high social and economic importance. The social benefits includes; employment on both long term and regular basis in primary, secondary and tertiary sectors, recreational value, educational and/ or scientific value. The economic benefits from the reserve includes; Forest Based Enterprises which involves honey, mushroom, wild fruit, insects, tubers, firewood and poles collection and timber production. Masuku fruits ( Uapaca kirkiana) Picasso Bug (Tsetsenya)-edible

Dzalanyama Forest Reserve has an extremely wide representation of plant and animal species and ecosystems. The biodiversity in this ecosystem represents three categories as follows; Genetic diversity which is the variation of genes within species covering distinct population of the same species or genetic variation within a population,Species diversity which is the variety of living organisms on Earth and Ecosystem diversity which is the variability of habitats and biotic communities. Tne biodiversity conservation has not only preserved national plants and animals of heritage but also created wealth among the surrounding communities through Forest Based Enterprises. Dzalanyama Forest Reserve is contributing generously to the food supply to both rural and urban areas of Dedza, Lilongwe and Mchinji districts that share the Reserve. Being a miombo woodland Dzalanyama Forest Reserve serves as a food reservoir of edible fungi (mushrooms), fruits(Uapaca kirkiana- masuku), roots(Habenaria w

The Malawi National Forest Policy goal(2016) is to improve provision of forest goods and services to contribute towards sustainable development of the nation through protection and conservation of forest redources. The policy aspires to control deforestation and forest degradation and promote strategies that will contribute to increase forest cover in order for the sector to significantly contribute to the national economic development. The policy has ten main priority areas that are giving guiding principles for effective implementation of forestry related programmes. Indigenous Forests, Forest Reserves and Ecosystem Management, under which Dzalanyama Forest Reserve follows is priority area 2. Under this priority area the policy seeks to promote sustainable management of forests for the protection of the environment, conservation of biodiversity, water catchments and climate change management and also to provide a conducive environment for promoting eco-tourism in forest areas. The