Current Projects

Location: Chiradzulu District
Project Period: 01.06.2023 – 31.05.2025
Funder: IKI Small Grants

Project Brief

The project goal is to contribute to increased forest-based carbon sink through restoration of the Chiradzulo Forest Reserve. The specific objective is to restore 400 hectares of the Chiradzulo Forest Reserve by 2025. Out of 400 hectares, 50 hectares will be re-afforested in the forest reserve through food for work incentive while 350 hectares will be managed through natural regeneration.

The project seeks to strengthen the capacity of border communities through creating and empowering community structures such as Village Natural Resource Management Committees (VNRMCs) at Group Village Head (GVH) Nkupu and Dokotala. These VNRMCs are to be trained in Leadership and group dynamics, forest management and formation of forest management plans, and economic empowerment through beekeeping and marketing. The project will also link communities to Beekeeping Association and markets.

Considering that Chiradzulo Mountain Forest Reserve is close to Blantyre City, community-based eco-tourism is to be promoted to generate income for the communities and contribute revenue to the District Council for community development initiatives.

CURE is working with Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi (WESM) as a consultant expert in beekeeping and community-based eco-tourism development. To ensure sustainability of the project, CURE has been working closely with the District Forest Office. CURE being a membership-based organization, experiences gained will be documented and shared with both national and international NGOs.

To scale up the experiences within Chiradzulo Forest Reserve border communities, exchange visits will be arranged within the border communities to promote effective forest restoration practices.

Project Goal

To contribute to increased forest-based carbon sink through restoration of the Chiradzulu Forest Reserve;

Project Specific Objective

To restore 400 hectares of the Chiradzulu Forest Reserve by 2025.

Expected Outcome

400 hectares of Chiradzulu Mountain Forest Reserve is restored, and 2,500 communities (500 households) derive increased and sustainable livelihoods and incomes for climate change resilience.

Target Groups

1. 2,500 household border communities around 5km radius from the forest reserve boundary#
2. Group Village Headman Doctor in the western part of the forest reserve (near Njuli);
3. Group Village Head Woman Nkupu in the eastern part of the forest reserve

Completed activities.

This far, a number of activities and trainings have been carried out. Below are some key activities:

• Introduction of the project to District Environmental Sub-Committee.
• Introduction of the project to District Executive Committee.
• Introduction of the project to Area Development Committee at Senior Chief Kadewere and Senior Chief Mpama.
• Introduction of the project to Village Development Committee at Group Village Head Nkupu and Group Village Head Dokotala.
• Sensitization of communities at Group Village Head Nkupu and Group Village Head Dokotala.
• Facilitation of election of Village Natural Resource Management Committee (VNRMC) members at Dokotala and Nkupu.
• Training of VNRMCs at Dokotala and Nkupu on leadership and group dynamics.
• Training of the VNRMCs in Nursery establishment and woodlot management.
• Establishment of tree nurseries in both Dokotala and Nkupu site.
• Baseline survey (Mapping of Cyclone Freddy induced gullies, possible forest based enterprises including beekeeping and tourism features etc.
• Reclamation of the Cyclone induced gullies at both Nkupu and Dokotala
• Facilitating the formation of beekeeping clubs at Dokotala and Nkupu.
• Training on beekeeping at Dokotala and Nkupu.
• Donation/Handover of 60 beehives and accompanying beekeeping equipment to the beneficiaries (40 at Dokotala and 20 at Nkupu)
• Facilitation of formation of community eco-tourism club at Dokotala.
• Training of the community ecotourism club at Dokotala.
• Identification of Tourism trails.
• Conducted Quarterly review meeting. – 1st quarter.
• Training on Monitoring, Evaluation Assessment and Learning of Learning.

Number and types of tree seedlings.