MICHIRU MOUNTAIN - Leisure walk ends in tears
A new wave of forest degradation is growing exponentially at Michiru Mountain in the heart of Blantyre supported by thriving businesses like Thobwa and mandasi to charcoal burners.
A new wave of forest degradation has taken an exponential level at Michiru Nature Sanctuary in the heart of Blantyre and there are thriving businesses like Thobwa and mandasi writes Gilbert Nkhwangwa.
On 11th day of May, 1998 I was employed at Michiru Nature Sanctuary located in Blantyre as a wildlife ranger under the sponsorship of the Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi, Blantyre Branch
At the material time of our recruitment, Michiru Mountain was managed by both Chikunda Farm on one side, Forestry and Wildlife Department as part of the area master plan.
However, being the only remaining area inside Blantyre covered with indigenous species of trees after Soche, Mpingwe and Ndirande had lost cover. The Mountain was experiencing heavy cutting down of trees for a thriving brick burning along the Likhubula River and the huge appetite for charcoal burning area Chigwaja area.
By then the sanctuary had two full time Department of National Parks and Wildlife Rangers namely (Messers Kashort and Chiona now both late)
The law enforcement team comprised of six WESM rangers plus two full time wildlife rangers tried its best to protect the area and led to recovery from heavy deforestation through hard working, selflessness and patriotic.
When I left Michiru, in 2009 after serving for 11 years the area heading towards recovery coupled with peace and tranquility and minimal fresh tree poaching and charcoal burning had registered a decrease.
However, after a 13 years span fresh tree cutting and charcoal burning has resurfaced and increased exponentially in the sanctuary.
My fear is within six months at the current pace of forest degradation, if authorities don't contain the situation Michiru Nature Sanctuary will completely disappear and follow the path of Ndirande and Soche reserves.
My small snap survey shows poachers are over powering the current rangers who need extra reinforcement to beef up control of the area.
The Mkwela route has turned into a market place hosting over 50 people who do business (selling Thobwa, mandazi, zigumu, kalingonda etc) right there to people who burn charcoal and cut trees for brick burning.
There are over 50 kilns of charcoals are were burning in the process when counted.
Almost every households around the Mountain owns hips of logs of fresh trees transported from the sanctuary.
Urgent steps…
√ Powerful law enforcement team is needed from to be deployed urgently to beef up security.
√ Stakeholders should employ special task force like what WESM did to do law enforcement activities together with DWP rangers
√ Transfer and deploy new faces at the sanctuary
√ All the culprits apprehended during the integrated law enforcement operation should face stiffer penalties to set an example to the community
Today over 60 people was transporting fresh trees from the sanctuary.
Latest information shows that main charcoal burning camp is at this area between the hills of Mkwela, Tumbulumbu in the west and the T-junction of Trail three towards Mwagwanyani and hyena hide.
This camp holds scores of people and have built small hurts there.