Tree Planting Project in Lengwe National Park Helps Alleviate Environmental, Economic Challenges for Local Residents

Malawi: Lengwe National Park, located in Chikwawa district and surrounded by Traditional Authorities Chapananga, Ndakwera, Ngabu, and Paramount Chief Lundu, has faced major problems due to the reckless cutting down of trees for charcoal production by local residents as a means of earning a living, writes Moses Thole.

This has led to a scarcity of water in the park as many wells have dried up, leaving the land barren.

As a result, some wild animals have been forced to leave the park to find water in nearby villages, where they have been killed by people, leading to a decrease in the number of wild animals in the park.

Those caught with forest products have been arrested and forced to pay fines or face imprisonment. This situation has been ongoing since the 1990s.

One Senior Group Village Head under Senior Chief Ngabu lamented that wild animals such as buffalos, wild pigs, and antelopes have been forced to move into the park to access water from the wells.

In response to this problem, the local NGO the Centre for Integrated Community Development (CICOD) implemented a tree planting project in the areas surrounding the park, which has helped to alleviate the issues faced by local residents.

Villagers have welcomed the project, and many trees have been planted, leading to a decrease in the number of people entering the park to cut down trees for charcoal production.

In addition, villagers have been given the opportunity to start loan savings banks, engage in bee farming, and have been offered a goat pass-on initiative, all of which have significantly improved their lives.

Rose Beka from Thomas Village under Traditional Authority Chapanga, who used to cut down trees in the park, said her life has completely changed.

Chinsinsi Chafulumira of Kanzimbi village, under Traditional Authority Ndakwera echoed Beka's sentiments.

He said he had completed many projects at home due to beekeeping and the income from a small business funded by a loan savings bank.

The Project Manager for CICOD Malawi in Chikwawa District, Edward Thole, said the projects, which were aimed at conserving Lengwe National Park, have been successful.

Currently, over 3,000 people living around Lengwe National Park in Chikwawa district are benefiting from CICOD-led projects.

Through cooperatives organized by CICOD Malawi, villagers no longer have time to cut down trees in the park.

This story was made possible with the support of Google News Initiative's News Equity Fund. #GNIChallenge