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

Illegal firewood extraction from Dzalanyama Forest Reserve

Firewood is the most commonly used source of energy among the biomass energy in Malawi. It is estimated that firewood consumption alone is currently at 80% of the total domestic energy(Department of Energy Affairs report, 2000).  And because of over dependency on fuel wood for energy the forests are constantly shrinking and the availability of fuel wood for domestic energy is getting less and less. There is a formidable gap between demand and supply of fuel wood and in certain parts the main preoccupation is not so much food but fuel wood to cook it. Fuel wood has become as much a necessity of life as food itself. This scarce commodity is now constantly gaining high market value than food grain itself and it is commonly transported by bicycles, trucks, oxcarts to the main markets for heating and lighting, brick burning, tobacco curing and industrial use. Illegal tree cutting for firewood has affected Dzalanyama Forest Reserve over the past two decades and the resultant deforestat...
Post a Comment
Read more

Dzalanyama hydrological system

The Dzalanyama Forest Reserve is the single most important water catchment in the central region of Malawi This critical ecosystem helps secure the provision of water supply to the rural and urban areas of Lilongwe city for domestic, agricultural and industrial uses and supports to the livelihoods of thousands of people living along the rivers and streams that drains from Dzalanyama Range. The area is drained by three major river systems which flow north-eastwards from the Dzalanyama Forest Reserve to Lake Malawi. The Lilongwe River with its tributaries, Likuni, Katete and Chaulongwe, drains the western, central and north- eastern parts of the area; the Namitete River, drains the north- western part and Diamphwi River with its major tributary, the Lifidzi drains the south- eastern segment. Small dambo lie at the source of each tributary stream and rarely dry up as all but smallest streams in Dzalanyama continue to flow throughout the year. The area is therefore humid and cool even ...
Post a Comment
Read more