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Mulanje Mountain has Central Africa’s highest peak at 3,000 meters |
The Mulanje Mountain Forest Reserve is of great ecological and economic importance to those who live in and around it, providing a source for freshwater, food, medicinal plants, building resources, recreation, and job opportunities. Yet despite its significance, it seems to be facing increasing threats of environmental degradation from man-made causes.
Deforestation, encroachment, harmful fires, invasive species, pollution, and illegal harvesting of resources are just some of the problems threatening the reserve at the present time. The Mulanje Mountain Forest Reserve is in Mulanje and Phalombe districts which have one of the largest population densities in Malawi and this is undoubtedly causing stress and strain on the local environment.
Saving Mulanje
In an effort to prevent a potentially disastrous situation from arising, measures are being put into place that will help protect this mountain reserve in hopes that people can sustainably enjoy benefits without compromising the ecological importance and values the area boasts. Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust (MMCT) is an organization that is trying to achieve these goals of conservation and sustainability. As a facilitating organization, MMCT works in conjunction with a number of partner organizations and members of the local community to try and fulfill these objectives successfully.
MMCT has been established specifically to facilitate the conservation of the rich biodiversity that is found in Central Africa's highest Mountain, 3000 meters at its peak. The Global Environmental Facility (GEF), an environmental and internationally acclaimed funding institution, has pumped in close to US$ 6 million, which will be used as an endowment by the Trust, said MMCT Executive Director Carl Bruessow in a recent interview.
A Rich River System
Mulanje Mountain in southeastern Malawi, close to the Mozambique border, acts as a catchment area for a number of rivers. These rivers include nine strong and big rivers such as the Ruo—the second largest river in Malawi, the Lichenya, the Likhubula, the Phalombe (one of the sources of Lake Chilwa), the Thuchila, the Muloza, the Sombani, and the Sukasanje. There are also ten smaller rivers that originate from the mountain. The largest of all these, the Ruo, flows down and empties its waters into the Shire river in the Malawi city of Nsanje, which eventually flows into the Zambezi river in Mozambique.
Mulanje, a tourist attracting site, is also located in the tea growing heartland district. Well-marked trails are also available for those intending to hike the mountain, which has rich and unique fauna and flora.
A recent MMCT funded research that involved specialists in plant identification has revealed that the Mulanje Mountain alone has over 500 endemic species of plants.
Bruessow said that the MMCT program objectives will run using interest accruals of funds given by the GEF. Funds will be invested outside the country in order to ensure that they maintain their value in foreign currency. A reputable organization will be identified by the Trust and funds will be deposited with the institution at an agreed period and rate. It is estimated that expected interest spin offs might be within the range of US$300,000 - US$400,000 annually; enough to run the operations of the Trust. The interest accrued from the endowment will also be used by the trust to sustain its operations, and be able to assist other groups whose objectives in nature are geared at environmental protection and preservation in the project area, said Bruessow.
The Trust will also solicit funds from organizations that are interested in developing ecotourism ventures within the project area. Arrangements are underway to concentrate developing the mountain base. "There are already nice huts on the top of the mountain being managed by the Forestry Department and the Presbyterian Church of Central Africa," said Bruessow.
Cultural and Biological Diversity
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| The Mulanje cedar grows at heights of 2000 – 2500 meters |
Culturally, Mulanje is home to a number of tribes, including the Lomwe, Yao and Mang'anja tribes. The district is also popular as a result of the early battles fought in the colonial times. Mulanje was also once the slave trade hub and path in southern Malawi, where all slaves bought in southeastern Malawi were taken en route to Mozambique. In addition, the district was one of the earliest to witness the coming of early missionaries, who brought Christianity and education to the country.
Mulanje Mountain boasts a variety of ecosystems; the Likhubula dry woodlands areas are unique with cycad species found nowhere else in the world. The cycad species grow while facing a westerly direction.
The Ruo river has tropical rain forest vegetation with trees growing as high as 150 ft. This area receives up to 100 inches of rain annually.
The Mulanje cedar (Widdringtonia whytei) is Malawi’s national tree and grows at heights of 2,000 - 2,500 meters. However the cedar has been severely extracted in the past. MMCT is funding a highly qualified forestry team to assess the situation, said Bruessow.
The harvesting period for the cedar is between August and September. MMCT intends to make sure that adequate personnel are trained to protect the mountain and its fauna and flora from future exploitation.
Bruessow said that despite the traditional style of life practiced by the people, there is a need for the masses to conform to current standing regulations. He said that there was no problem for the local people to collect dead wood from the mountain, but that there is a need for local enforcement to be put in place from one traditional authority to another. "Social challenges need social solutions,” he said.
Plans are underway to remove invasive species that have occupied the mountain terrestrial ecosystem. One noted species is Pinus pattula and Blue gum which occupy 3,000 hectares of the mountain. The mountain top has 800 hectares of invasive species and MMCT intends to remove these plants which are not indigenous to the area. The alien species are posing a threat to species like the cedar and other plant and animal species, hence the need to remove them.
MMCT intends to raise hundreds of thousands of seedlings of indigenous species to replace the invasive species that have occupied the mountain. It also intends to start a transboundary project with other key players in conservation in neighboring Mozambique. The objective is to conserve the richly diverse resource jointly. Bruessow said that communications are underway and very shortly we will see the deal going into full gear.
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