COMMUNITY ATTITUDES AND PERCEPTIONS TOWARDS MANAGEMENT OF KANING’INA FOREST RESERVE IN MALAWI
WONDER BANDA
Department of Forestry, Malawi College of Forestry and Wildlife, Private Bag 6, Dedza, Malawi.
TRINITAS SENGANIMALUNJE
Department of Forestry, Malawi College of Forestry and Wildlife, Private Bag 6, Dedza, Malawi.
EDWARD MISSANJO *
Department of Forestry, Malawi College of Forestry and Wildlife, Private Bag 6, Dedza, Malawi.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
A cross-sectional study was conducted to examine community attitudes and perceptions towards current management of Kaning’ina forest reserve in Malawi, with much emphasis on (1) determining if people are aware of the environmental problems in the reserve, (2) identifying types of illegal activities being conducted in the reserve and (3) identifying possible strategies to combat the illegal activities in the reserve. A total of 42 households from Zolozolo and Kajoloweka villages were used for the study. Data was collected using a standard structured questionnaire administered through face-to-face interviews. The results revealed that majority (66.7%) of the households were aware that the reserve is highly degraded and recognized this as major environmental problem. Charcoal production, timber production, firewood collection, bush fires were identified as the illegal activities taking place in the reserve and most of the respondent (61.9%) indicated that charcoal production is the main illegal activity. The illegal activities are due to conflicts with forest managers on resources extraction, strict rules on forest resources use within the reserve. In addition, poverty also contributed to illegal activities as a result of unemployment, since 71.4% of the households depends on forest products as a source of income. The illegal activities can be avoided by building good relationship between forest users and forestry personnel, conducting extensive patrols in the reserve and initiation of co-management of the forest resources and 83.3% of the respondents indicated that they are willing to participate in the forestry activities organised by forestry department. Therefore, the study recommends the need to integrate forest resource access programs with conservation education and communication campaigns. However, this should start with training of staff so that they can learn how they can work with the communities (changing from Protectionists to Extensionist) and also initiate programs that directly involve locals in the management of the resources.
Keywords: Awareness, forest products, illegal activities, good relationship, co-management