Government and locals in Mangochi district have entered into a co-management agreement for the sustainable management of Namizimu and Phirilongwe Forest Reserves in the district.
The two parties were represented by Director of Forestry Dr Clement Chilima and Senior Chiefs Chowe and Mponda whose catchments capture the two forest reserves.
In his remarks Dr Chilima said the agreement will assist in reducing deforestation and Biodiversity degradation in the reserves.
Through the signed Strategic Forest Area Plans, the two reserves will be managed in line with shared roles and responsibilities guided by the agreement.
The two reserves fall in the implementation catchment of the World Bank funded Malawi Watershed Services Improvement Project (MWASIP) aimed at scaling up catchment rehabilitation efforts (Forestry).