Project Update: June 2005

On 5-15th May 2005, the project team along with 70 representatives of local communities and their traditional leaders carried out vegetation surveys to identify tree and other plant species that were destroyed by human activities in order to restore and rehabilitate degraded habitats on which the cheetahs and other animals depend upon for survival in Kasungu wildlife reserve.

The survey revealed that 27 plant species were destroyed in various habitats. Then, 25kgs of seeds of the plant species destroyed were purchased from seed bank at Forestry Research Institute of Malawi. Further, 7000 polythene tubes, 14 rakes, 14 hoes, 14 panga knives, 14 water cans, 7 wheel bars, etc., were bought and distributed to the representatives of the local communities to assist them on nursery establishment and seed raising.

I am pleased to report that from 8th- 20th June 2005, 350 selected local communities (50 from each of the seven villages who will serve as trainer of trainers) were trained on seed mobilisation and protection, nursery establishment and management, seed multiplication, seedling management and replanting. In total, 7000 seedlings of different native plant species (Fig.2) were raised and shortly will be replanted in