Skip to main content

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 2015 there has been a tremendous change on the ground. The MDF has been working hand in hand with the Forest Department, local leaders, Police and the general public to successfully meet such an achievement.
MDF soldiers and a Forestry Ranger standing in front of charcoal maker's shelter
MDF Soldiers inspecting an abandoned truck


MDF Soldiers destroying a charcoal kiln


Stacked firewood ready for illegal charcoal making

MDF Soldiers destroying charcoal bags








Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

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
1 comment
Read more

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
Post a Comment
Read more