Governments' efforts in addressing deforestation in Dzalanyama.

Shortage of water supply to Lilongwe city due to constant siltation and seasonal dry-ups of streams and rivers that drain from Dzalanyama mountain ranges and the irregular rain falls around the region as a result of widespread deforestation that had created an ecological disaster left Government with no choice but to initiate rapid response system in order to mitigate the worst effects. Therefore the Government through other development partners like Lilongwe Water Board and Japanese International Cooperation Agency came up with the following strategies:

Conducting feasibility study to establish excess of damage in Dzalanyama Forest Reserve.
Promotion of public awareness through Newspaper publications, Radio and Television progammes about Dzalanyama.
Adoption of a multisectrol approach on implementation of forest operations like tree planting and law enforcement in Dzalanyama Forest Reserve.
Adoption of policies and an institutional framework consistent with sustainability and participatory approach to the management of natural forests.

The office of President and Cabinet through the Ministry of Natural Resources Energy and Mines took a leading role in the rehabilitation process and has since 2015 cultivated a sense of public urgency and awareness to conserve and rehabilitate Dzalanyama Forest Reserve. The information permeated all aspect of the society. The JICA conducted feasibility study and the result of the study indicated that around 7,500 bags of charcoal were illegally produced in Dzalanyama Forest Reserve a deforestation that claimed nearly 30 Hectares a day. In view of this sorry situation, Lilongwe Water Board embarked on a river line rehabilitation of Kamuzu dam 1 and 2, the main inlet Lilongwe river and financing of law enforcement operations in order to protect Dzalanyama watershed
Forestry Department with support from the Forestry Development and Management Fund( FDMF), reviewed National Forest Policy, trained 30 Forest Rangers and intensified Forest patrols both inside and outside Dzalanyama Forest Reserve to arrest the situation.

Indiscriminate tree cutting for charcoal and firewood at river sources

Water level at Kamuzu Dam 2 by February 2017

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Welcome to Dzalanyama Forest Reserve

Hello, my name is Daniel Tomlin Kabichi and I am the Assistant Plantation Manager residing in Dzalanyama Forest Reserve. On this blog I will show all the treasures hidden inside the forest. I will take you on regular walks through the reserve and together we will not only learn more about the plants growing here, but you will also meet some of the amazing animals living inside the forest. I hope that by showing you all these creatures we all better understand why it is so important to continue to protect Dzalanyama Forest as good as we can. Scadoxus multiflorus

Current status of Dzalanyama Forest Reserve

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

Deployment of the Malawi Defence Force soldiers into Dzalanyama

The Government of Malawi introduced Malawi Defence Force intervention programme to deal with illegal logging for charcoal and firewood in Dzalanyama Forest Reserve. The objectives of the joint operations with the Department of Forestry include the following:- To conduct patrols in the forest reserve particularly the most affected areas To confiscate all the illegal forest products obtained without permit. To impound vehicles, oxcarts, and bicycles used in trafficking illegal forest produce. To confiscate all equipment and tools used in tree felling To destroy by burning all charcoal kilns and erected structures in the reserve. To mount ad hoc spot checks and road blocks in some routes leading to the reserve. To apprehend and hand over to police all suspected offenders for prosecution. The operations have been conducted 24/7 both inside and outside of the reserve(Central Forestry Zone Office Outlook Report 2015). And since the Malawi Defence Force deployment on 7th February

The Dzalanyama Forest Reserve

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