In order to protect wildlife we have to address the human behaviours like poaching and habitat destruction that are resulting in its decline. These same behaviours that are leading to the loss of biodiversity are also having a negative impact on people. For example over 15% of Malawian family incomes come from the forests as does significant amounts of family food (meat, leaves, roots, mushrooms, fruit, honey and insects) and 75% of energy requirements. As these forests disappear so do their means of survival.
OUR APPROACH
We aim to encourage people to become guardians of the environment they share with wildlife. We work with ten of the poorest local communities through PAW clubs which comprise of 16 members including at least the chiefs, school teachers and some learners. Regular workshops with these groups help us to identify projects that the communities want and can benefit from both directly and indirectly. Whilst our guidelines encourage environmental restoration and sustainable livelihood projects, the ’bottom up’ approach promotes community empowerment and ownership which is important to the programme’s long term sustainability. As a result of our successes here we have also rolled out some of these projects to communities around Salima and Kasungu.
Read more about our outreach projects by following the links below:
- Alternative Energy
- Permaculture
- Malambe juice enterprise
- Bee keeping project