Effectiveness of Integrated Indigenous-Technocrat Model in Restoring Controversial Forest Reserve Hotspot: The Case of Nkanya and Lusewa Rivers in Domasi Area, Zomba District

Abstract

Abstract-The study was conducted along the Nkanya-Lusewa rivers in Zomba-Malosa Forest Reserve in Domasi area in Malawi to come up with a better integrated indigenous and technocrat model for tree restoration and test its effectiveness in Nkanya-Lusewa river catchment as a hot spot. The study focused on 28 gardens along the rivers whose owners encroached the forest reserve and willed to participate in the study. In total we planted 228 seedlings of S.siamea, F.albida and A.lebbeck within a distance of 10 m on either side of the study rivers using integrated approach. We found that out of 101 S.seamea seedlings planted in February,2014 in the study gardens, 81%, 68%, 51% and 38% survived by May, August, November and April respectively and the survival rates for F. albida were 83%, 68%, 39% and 5% while for A. lebbeckwere84%, 81%, 58% and 51% respectively for the same months. Most of the selected farmers fully and willingly participated in the research activity. We further found that tree survival rates varied among the gardens due to transplanting shock, post-planting care differences, soil moisture variation and incidence of bush fires. The research has therefore found that trees planted using Integrated Indigenous-Technocrat Model along these rivers survived better for the same period than those previous planted implying that full community involvement in forest restoration is crucial.

Influence of anthropogenic activities on the initial establishment and growth rate of introduced Senna siamea in Zomba-Malosa Forest Reserve, Malawi

“…S. siamea seedlings cannot withstand prolonged drought and subjection to fire although it has been known to have the capability of growing under a wide variety of climatic conditions ranging from humid to arid [22]. In its natural habitat, its optimum mean annual temperature is within 20-28°C, and it prefers moist soils with good drainage and a soil pH of 5.5-7.5 [23], [24].…”

“…Emphasis is rarely put on determining the survival and growth rates of trees planted in natural forests in Malawi for better evaluating the forestation strategies employed. The people in Domasi area, in Zomba district in Malawi, cultivate in marginal land and have invaded Zomba-Malosa forest reserves for cultivation and charcoal production due to the scarcity of land which emanates from high human population growth and poverty level such that survivorship of indigenous trees is very low [1]. Trees planted along Nkanya and Lusewa rivers through Southern Region Water Board (SRWB) and Water Users Association (WUA) in Domasi area have been failing to survive since 2005 but those planted by the community through integrated indigenous-technocrat approach have shown great survivorship within the first 10 months.…”

Why we fail: Stakeholders' perceptions of the social and ecological barriers to reforestation in southern Malawi

“…Over 80% of the population still depends on agriculture for primary income (Tchereni & Sekhampu, 2013), and forest dependence is high (Green, Eigenbrod, Schreckenberg, & Willcock, 2017; Kamanga et al, 2008). Malawi's government has committed to restore 4.5 million hectares of forest under the Bonn Challenge—roughly 38% of the country's land area—yet the success of public planting projects on the ground has been poor (Moyo, Chikuni, & Chiotha, 2017).…”