Reforesting Malawi’s ‘Island in the Sky’ to Save Its Vanishing Woodlands
Mount Mulanje in Malawi faces severe deforestation, impacting its unique biodiversity. Efforts by the Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust aim to restore the indigenous Mulanje cedar and engage local communities in sustainable practices. The devastation from Tropical Cyclone Freddy has heightened the urgency for conservation. Continued efforts focus on cultivating alternative income streams while protecting the surrounding ecosystems.
Malawi’s Mount Mulanje, recognized for its unique biodiversity and numerous endemic species, faces significant deforestation, particularly within its miombo woodlands and higher-elevation forests. The Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust, alongside various partners, has committed over two decades to restoring the Mulanje cedar (Widdringtonia whytei), a vital endemic species and Malawi’s national tree. Concurrently, projects promoting reforestation and income generation in the miombo woodlands aim to alleviate poverty and reduce environmental pressures.
In March 2023, Tropical Cyclone Freddy devastated Malawi, resulting in six months’ worth of rainfall within just six days, claiming over 600 lives and displacing around 650,000 persons. Communities near Mount Mulanje endured significant destruction, exacerbated by previous deforestation due to illegal logging, fires, and firewood demand. The absence of vegetation has led to severe soil erosion, transforming the land into torrents that obliterate villages and farms.
Environmental educator Kondwani Chamwala asserts that Cyclone Freddy served as a crucial awakening for local communities, emphasizing the necessity of protecting existing natural resources. Coupled with rich local lore, Mt. Mulanje boasts 64,000 hectares encompassing diverse ecosystems from the lush miombo woodlands to high-altitude foggy forests, which house approximately 70 endemic plant species.
Despite its designation as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1927, Mount Mulanje’s biodiversity remains vulnerable due to local agricultural practices and encroaching tea plantations, diminishing the protective forest cover. Chamwala reminisces about a childhood filled with abundant wildlife and natural resources but now highlights a troubling scarcity of essential resources, which has intensified due to climatic changes and economic challenges.
From 2002 to 2023, satellite data indicated significant forest loss within the Mulanje Mountain Forest Reserve, heightening in 2023 amid Cyclone Freddy’s aftermath. Many local residents resort to illegal logging to support their families, confronting stringent but unenforced regulations against tree felling. The Mulanje cedar, once flourishing, faces existential threats from logging, regulatory lapses, and environmental shifts.
Conservationists, including the Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust, have spearheaded reforestation efforts focusing on the Mulanje cedar, planting thousands of seedlings annually. Through community nurseries, local residents are now integral to the cultivation process, which bolsters both environmental preservation and community livelihoods. These initiatives adapt to changing conditions, counteracting early losses with refined strategies to improve seedling survival rates.
Ongoing threats include intentional fires set to reveal illegal logging activity, demanding continuous vigilance from local conservationists. Despite strict regulations on logging, practical enforcement on the mountain proves challenging, exacerbated by resource constraints within the local forestry department. Collaboration with organizations like the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species further aids in protecting the Mulanje cedar through regulated trading.
To support local conservation, initiatives in the adjacent miombo woodlands target the exploitation of flora while fostering natural regeneration. Organizations such as WeForest offer technical guidance to communities for sustainable practices, including agroforestry, to mitigate pressure on forest ecosystems. There is potential for high-value products derived from the miombo’s natural resources to replace unsustainable practices, offering economic alternatives to the community.
MMCT is actively fostering sustainable income sources, enabling local communities to engage with their indigenous resources. Value-added products from the miombo, such as dried fruits and essential oils, are set to be marketed regionally to promote ecological sustainability and connection to local heritage. Continuous support and small, consistent funding streams from various stakeholders are crucial for the conservation of Mount Mulanje’s rich biodiversity.
Conservation efforts on Malawi’s Mount Mulanje, particularly focused on restoring the Mulanje cedar, are essential in combating biodiversity loss. Despite severe challenges from deforestation and recent natural disasters, community involvement and innovative projects showcase potential pathways to sustainable practices. Strengthening local economies through diverse bioproducts and ongoing forest management will be critical in preserving this vital ecosystem while mitigating poverty.
Original Source: news.mongabay.com