Sustainable Forestry – Malawi

The Sustainable Forest Demonstration Project,  promotes the sustainable and diverse use of trees and forestry products and trains approximately 500 households in 12 villages in forestry techniques. Our partner Horizon Farm is developing a 10 Hectare multi purpose community forestry demonstration and research site to encourage 12 indigenous communities to plant trees as part of their agro forestry practices.
After training the communities grow tree seedlings which are used for the 10 ha community forest, for homestead, and field planting in villages for a range of uses and consequent benefits. The 10 ha plot will be permanent and harvested sustainably under the supervision of the farm. The plot will provide a permanent source of seed. In 3-4 years the fruit trees distributed to the participants will contribute to an income of over MK5000 (£20) per household.

Last year, the participating villages organised forestry committees and the communities produced over 30,000 tree seedlings for use in the villages and on small farms. Over half of the site has been planted which now contains 10,000 trees. Youth clubs and young farmer groups are also keenly involved with this project. It is intended that Horizon farm will become a model tree farm and training site for other communities in Malawi.

ITF’s other partners in Malawi

Youth Clubs This project works with Youth Groups who are committed to conservation of the environment, partially as a result of widespread destruction of the indigenous forest around the Wadasoka district, near Mzuzu. The youth groups are growing tree seedlings and replanting an area of the Kaningina Forest which has been neglected by the Forest Department.

Hora Mountain Environmental Rehabilitation Afforestation Working with our partner RUFA, this project assists communities around Hora Historical Mountain to rehabilitate the deforested areas. The communities have been trained in activities from nursery establishment through to formulation of bye-laws as a measure of them to protect existing forests under their jurisdiction. The present Village Forest Areas contained in their villages where they enforce their laws are not adequate as compared to areas which do not fall under their jurisdiction. This project has put in place voluntarily to start a dialogue with local leaders to make them release as much land as possible to fall under enforcement of the agreed upon bye-laws which have also been signed by government representative to legalize them.

The Children’s Food Forest . In this project community owned land which was once dense forest is being re planted to reduce erosion in villages near Chintheche, Nkhata Bay, Malawi with The Shanti Trust. School children are taking part in practical training and environmental education. Along with fruit and exotic species, indigenous species are being planted through this project such as red mahogany, pod mahogany, silver terminalia, fame tree, njaya, and zimamani.

Reforestation of Liwonde National Park . This project engages school children in tree planting in ten village schools surrounding the Liwonde National Park. Prizes will be awarded to the schools with the most trees thriving after one year. The pupils are involved in entire tree planting process from sowing tree seeds, to managing the plantings up until a year after establishment. The project will educate children from a young age in the importance of protecting the National Park.