Mulanje Mountain Forest Reserve

Recently me and my collegues climbed up to Mulanje Mountain Forest Reserve and we climbed up to Luchenya Peak. There is a nice hut at the peak and we stayed over the night. We were looking for sites for Invasive Species. The climb took us an unexpected 8 hrs. One needs to be fit to climb up the mountain. It takes four hours for the frequent climbers though.  I would just like to share some pictures that I asked my friend from MMCT to take because words can not explain the beauty of the mountain. I look forward to more trips to the mountain. You cant get enough of Mulanje or the abundance of biodiversity in the mountain. It is worth every climbing pain.

This plant just captivates me. The leaf is the whole plat. 

Luchenya hut. This is where you stay for a sleep over and rest. 

I just want to recognize the gentleman who has spent all his life ensuring that the biodiversity of Mulanje is maintained and well cared for. He has been working in the mountain for over 15 years and he knows almost every plant by heart. The world needs more like him. 

No caption. 

I wish someone could name this for me

This leaf is the whole plant. 

What I need is to get in tune with my botanical nomenclature. 

The flowers were just amazing

There are Serval cats too. You don't get to see them , but you get to see their dropping. They are so mean. 

Those are the warriors of the mountain. They spend day and night making sure the mountain is conserved and well protected. 

We stopped to have a drink from the river

Amazing spire web. It made me so happy. 

part of the mountain views 

 GENESIS 1 VS 20-29

20 Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living [e]creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the [f]firmament of the heavens.” 21 So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” 23 So the evening and the morning were the fifth day.

24 Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, eachaccording to its kind”; and it was so. 25 And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was 

good.

26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over [g]all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that [h]moves on the earth.”

29 And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. 30 Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is [i]life, I have given every green herb for food”; and it was so. 31 Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

This is what motivates me in my job in conservation at any level. God gave the earth to us to tend and care for it. When he created everything he saw that it was good. My duty is to maintain that goodness.

 Invasive Alien Species Control Program in Malawi

Invasive alien species are plants, animals, pathogens  and other organisms that are not native to an ecosystem, which may cause economic or environmental harm or adversely affect  human health. 

PINUS PATULA (PINE) is Invasive in Nyika National Park and Mulanje Mountain Forest Reserve

Invasive alien species disrupt the balance of natural ecosystems.They out-compete native species, affecting biodiversity in ecosystems. In some cases, invasive alien species may reproduce with native species and alter the gene pool, leading to hybridization and homogeneity and reducing genetic diversity.Therefore, invasive alien species and their pathways must be properly identified, controlled and eradicated.

Black Wattle is invasive in Nyika National Park

Malawi has recorded between 31-69  invasive species but observation studies indicate the list could be up to 100. Invasive Alien Species in Malawi are introduced accidentally (food aid and planting material), intentionally (Landscape, fodder, fencing,agroforestry) and through tourism, trade and travel. Climate change has accelerated spread as temperatures in some areas are  becoming more favorable for invasive species than natural species.

Bracken Fern is not Alien but has become extremely invasive in both Mulanje and Nyika. This is our biggest problem species so far. 

 For the next 5 years, through my work as a Principal Environmental Officer at Environmental Affairs Department, I will be coordinating a 5 year project aimed at  prevent new invasions of Invasive Alien Species and reduce the current impacts of  existing Invasive Alien Species in two protected areas of Mulanje Mountain Forest Reserve in Southern Malawi and Nyika National Park in Northern Malawi. The project will strengthen  on-the ground management of Invasive Alien Species in the two protected areas and improve management of Invasive Species at National Level. 

All this is un managed pine growths. We want our natural vegetation back. 

I will be sharing the experiences of the project and I am looking forward to the changes our team will make in preserving the unique biodiversity in these biodiversity hot spots.  Below are the Invasive Species we will be eradicating and preventing their further spread in the two protected areas.