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.
Highlights
Agroforestry and forest restoration ecology projects are established for different purposes such as conserving biodiversity, changing microclimate, improving groundwater recharge capacity, controlling soil erosion, provision of forest resource products, nutrients recycling, rehabilitating mines and other damaged ecosystems, and for boundary demarcation[1]
The fast growing and multipurpose trees such as Albizia lebbeck, Faidherbia albida, Acacia polyacantha, Gliricidia sepium, Moringa oleifera, Manihot glaziovii, Ziziphus mauritiana, Z. abyssinica, Senna siamea, Adansonia digitata, Z. mauritiana, Bridelia micrantha, and Cordyla africana are recommended for reforestation in many areas worldwide as well as in Malawi especially in a riparian system, in agroforestry programmes and for medication as they provide quick benefit to the ecosystem and humans [3][4]
Most farmers (72%) cultivate away from the forest reserve and these come from relatively distant villages (Table 1)
Summary
Agroforestry and forest restoration ecology projects are established for different purposes such as conserving biodiversity, changing microclimate, improving groundwater recharge capacity, controlling soil erosion, provision of forest resource products, nutrients recycling, rehabilitating mines and other damaged ecosystems, and for boundary demarcation[1]. Authors have indicated the importance of being mindful of sustainable rural livelihoods and community participation in forest restoration programmes among other factors[2]. A number of authors and practitioners have indicated the significance of stakeholders involvement for successful and sustainable natural resources management, conservation, and restoration projects [10][11][12][13][14]
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