capacity building to support community institutions in forestry programmes and community Participatory Forest Management (PFM) Poverty is a challenge to conservation of Malava forest resources and one of the intervention measures is to support livelihood activities. Within the intervention zone Nature Based Enterprises (NBEs) will reduce pressure on the forest. The livelihoods of the local communities are expected to improve through NBEs. Some of the NBEs include bee keeping, fish farming, woodlots establishment for commercial, ecotourism and production of energy saving devices. 5.4.2 Management Challenges Some of the key challenges include:
Lack of information and awareness among some community members on how to participate in forest conservation and protection is hampering their participation. Human-wildlife conflict in Malava is another major challenge. Malava forest has a high population of primates which mostly invade the forest adjacent farms. Limited knowledge and skills in on-farm forestry and other NBEs among community members has also affected their participation in effective protection and conservation of the forest.
5.4.3 Programme Objectives 1. 2. 3.
To ensure the community participate in the conservation and management of Malava Forest To promote farm forestry, energy saving devices and nature-based enterprises To undertake measures to reduce Human – Wildlife conflicts in Malava Forest
Figure 5.7: Plate on on-farm tree farming in Malava Malava Participatory Forest Management Plan, 2015-2019
Page | 58