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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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