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Biological importance of Dzalanyama Forest Reserve

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 walleri- chikande), honey and insects. These types of foods are quickly available and they require little effort to harvest or prepare them for use. They are direct products of the forest less subject to failure than domestic crops and for that reason they frequently stand between life and starvation especially to the surrounding communities when domestic crops are scarce.
 


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