Community Knowledge in Restoring Trees in Controversial Forest Hot Spots: Case of Nkanya-Lusewa rivers catchment area in Zomba-Malosa Forest Reserve, Malawi

Abstract

Trees planted by the Forestry Department and other institutions in Nkanya-Lusewa river hotspot in Zomba-Malosa forest reserve in Domasi area in Malawi have not been surviving because villagers have been defiantly encroaching the forest reserve and this has led to many problems such as intermittent piped water supply in dry season. The study was done to investigate the community’s knowledge on better forest restoration strategies in the hotspot and it involved 591 interviewees selected from 2,111 households in 25 villages. Several sampling methods were used such as cluster, purposeful, snowballing and accessibility methods. The majority of people in the area know the importance of forests and impacts of deforestation mostly citing direct-use values such as firewood, rainfall, construction materials, medicine, and water catchment conservation. Many villagers (56%) view previous reforestation efforts in the area as being unsuccessful while 34% considered them as successful. Seedling uprooting, bush fires and lack of post-planting care are the key activities that lead to high mortality of young trees. Most respondents (28%) indicated that yearly tree planting must fully involve the community and that garden owners must provide post-planting care (19%) in their prohibited gardens. Khaya anthotheca, Senna siamea, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Pterocarpus angolensis, Mangifera indica, Toona ciliata, Breonadia salicina, Uapaca kirkiana, and Albizia lebbeck were highly preferred for their various characteristics and purposes. Most villagers (96.1%) are willing to participate in forestry activities as long as their views are appreciated while 3.4% of them indicated unwillingness because they are busy with personal work, are aged and/or sickly.