Focus group with the Anglican Forestry Group in Zomba; the women here: Margaret, Emily and Violet, are inspecting some bamboo charcoal.
Important things we learned through this focus group:
1) The Anglican Forestry Group focuses on: taking care of forest tress against unwanted hunting charcoal producers, working to regenerate destroyed environment. They “appreciate the benefits of trees— especially the fresh air— it is our duty to protect the forest.”
2) The Group was founded in 2008; “Malawi was not like this. All the rivers had a forest cover, and the mountain did not look like it does today— bare. Zungus liked the forest cover of Zomba so chose it as the first capital.”
3) In the last two years, 4 million trees have been cut down from the Zomba hills.
4) Because of the lack of trees around bigger cities such as Blantyre, the original charcoal producers from those areas migrate to Zomba, or surrounding towns, and cut down the trees.
5) These “foreigners” also bring in HIV/AIDS into the community, and leaves the problem here— this is an increasing problem.
6) Additionally, all of Zomba relies on water coming from the Mulunguzi Dam at the top of the Zomba Plateau (where we went on Saturday!); it flows down in natural streams to the people. However, the water needs to be protected by the forest cover or else the streams will dry.
7) Laston Dennis, committee member, says, “There are two actions that need to be taken for the Forestry Group; a) People need to be empowered— they need to be trained in technologies, and for knowledge in the environment; b) There is a need for more patrols.”
8) Even as the hills burn for charcoal or from bush fires, bamboo is resilient against fire threats.
9) The Group only has knowledge of forests from schooling, but an interest in forests because of the love for their country. They have been promised by the goverment money and training, but have not received anything. They also lack equipment, such as protective gear and working equipment to reforestate.
10) The Group also helps teach the community because most people dont even know the benefits of forestry. For example, there is an abundance of wildlife in the forest; also, many trees are used as natural medicinal resources.
11) If the forest is sustained, life is sustained.
