The Chikangawa Forest Reserve, also known as the Viphya Plantation, is a man-made forest in the

South Viphya Forest Reserve The Viphya Mountains, also known as the Viphya Plateau or Viphya Highlands, are a mountain range in Malawi's Northern Region. Geography The range runs north-northeast along the west shore of Lake Malawi. The range extends approximately 210 km ...

Chikangawa Chikangawa is a residential and industrial town located in the Mzimba District of Malawi, in the Northern Region.https://times.mw/chikangawa-under-siege/ The town has a rich history dating back to the pre-colonial era, when it was a small vill ...

Malawi Malawi (; or aláwi Tumbuka: ''Malaŵi''), officially the Republic of Malawi, is a landlocked country in Southeastern Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the west, Tanzania to the north and northeast ...

. It was established in 1948 and covers 1147.8 square kilometers. The forest is mainly composed of exotic pine trees. It is home to the

Viphya Plantation The Viphya Mountains, also known as the Viphya Plateau or Viphya Highlands, are a mountain range in Malawi's Northern Region. Geography The range runs north-northeast along the west shore of Lake Malawi. The range extends approximately 210 km ...

, which was established in 1964 in a failed attempt to grow construction timber. The forest reserve is home to several native evergreen montane forests. The reserve was established to conserve the natural forests of the Viphya Mountains in Malawi. The forest provides a habitat for various plant and animal species, and supports sustainable forest management practices.https://www.protectedplanet.net/country/MW

History

Chikangawa Forest Reserve was established in 1948 as a protected area to conserve the natural forests of the

Viphya Mountains The Viphya Mountains, also known as the Viphya Plateau or Viphya Highlands, are a mountain range in Malawi's Northern Region. Geography The range runs north-northeast along the west shore of Lake Malawi. The range extends approximately 210 km ...

in Malawi. The reserve was created to protect the indigenous forests and water sources in the area. Over the years, it has played a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance of the region and providing timber and other forest products.

Geography

It covers an area of approximately 1,150 square kilometers.

Achievements

Chikangawa Forest Reserve has achieved significant milestones in conservation and sustainable forest management. It has maintained a high level of forest cover, providing habitat for various plant and animal species. The reserve has also supported local communities through sustainable forest management practices.

Mission

The mission of the reserve is to conserve and manage the forest resources sustainably, while providing benefits to local communities and supporting national development. The vision of the reserve is to maintain a healthy and productive forest ecosystem that supports biodiversity conservation, sustainable forest management, and community development. The aim of Chikangawa Forest Reserve is to balance conservation and sustainable use of forest resources, ensuring the long-term health of the forest ecosystem.

Management

The reserve is managed by the Department of Forestry, which is responsible for implementing conservation and management activities.

Activities

The reserve supports various activities, including sustainable timber harvesting, ecotourism, and research. It also provides a habitat for various plant and animal species, including endangered species like the Mulanje cedar and the

red colobus monkey Red colobuses are Old World monkeys of the genus ''Piliocolobus''. It was formerly considered a subgenus within the genus ''Procolobus'', which is now restricted to the olive colobus. They are closely related to the black-and-white colobus monkey ...

Incidents

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chikangawa Forest Reserve Central Zambezian miombo woodlands Forest reserves of Malawi Forests of Malawi Geography of Northern Region, Malawi Mountain ranges of Malawi Southern Rift montane forest–grassland mosaic Important Bird Areas of Malawi 1948 establishments in Africa Protected areas established in 1948