Major obstacles to tree survival in Malawi include indiscriminate forest resource extraction which is largely attributed to heavy woodfuel utilisation for firewood and charcoal production, timber requirement, agricultural industry, infrastructure development and uncontrolled bush fires.
Wood and charcoal are the most preferred cooking and heating fuels in Malawi even in the poorer parts of the cities and the demand is huge. It is estimated that charcoal consumption is twice what the nation's woodland can sustain without further deforestation. Indeed loggers illegally clear 250,000 ha of forest each year to meet the demand for charcoal and firewood, a deforestation rate of 2.8%(Forest policy 2016) resulting in further reduction of forest per capita which is already below desired minimum. However expected increase in population and residential construction indicates that wood market may continue to grow.
Most of the hills have been shaved of their leafy canopies of trees, leaving behind a Rocky bristle of scrub. Agricultural fields are left open except for few scattered trees. In many places the biggest patches of untouched woods are the ones that protect community graveyards. This has exerted pressure on both state and private owned forest areas.
Dzalanyama Forest Reserve has its share of these setbacks. Despite its critical importance for sustaining current and future economic development for the surrounding communities through provision of goods and services, Dzalanyama has been impacted by illegal forest resource extraction. The survey conducted by JICA in 2015 indicates that charcoal production in Dzalanyama assumed alarming proportions. Over 7500 bags of charcoal were produced from Dzalanyama forest reserve daily leaving most of the areas critically bare.
Forest cover just outside Dzalanyama
Illegal tree cutting in Dzalanyama
Wood and charcoal are the most preferred cooking and heating fuels in Malawi even in the poorer parts of the cities and the demand is huge. It is estimated that charcoal consumption is twice what the nation's woodland can sustain without further deforestation. Indeed loggers illegally clear 250,000 ha of forest each year to meet the demand for charcoal and firewood, a deforestation rate of 2.8%(Forest policy 2016) resulting in further reduction of forest per capita which is already below desired minimum. However expected increase in population and residential construction indicates that wood market may continue to grow.
Most of the hills have been shaved of their leafy canopies of trees, leaving behind a Rocky bristle of scrub. Agricultural fields are left open except for few scattered trees. In many places the biggest patches of untouched woods are the ones that protect community graveyards. This has exerted pressure on both state and private owned forest areas.
Dzalanyama Forest Reserve has its share of these setbacks. Despite its critical importance for sustaining current and future economic development for the surrounding communities through provision of goods and services, Dzalanyama has been impacted by illegal forest resource extraction. The survey conducted by JICA in 2015 indicates that charcoal production in Dzalanyama assumed alarming proportions. Over 7500 bags of charcoal were produced from Dzalanyama forest reserve daily leaving most of the areas critically bare.
Illegal tree cutting in Dzalanyama
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