Mulanje lies within Shire River Basin. In fact, Thuchila River which is one of the main tributaries for Shire River originates from the north-western part of Mulanje where the proposed project will be undertaken. Apart from supporting livelihoods of some 66,000 people through small-scale agriculture, this part of Mulanje district is of ecological importance to the Shire River which is the major source of Malawi?s hydro-electric power. In this case, therefore, Thuchila River catchment area is of critical importance to Malawi?s economic development. The situation on the ground, however, reveals that the environment in the project catchment area is under serious threat emanating from the following:
? Wanton cutting down of trees especially along rivers and in graveyards for charcoal business and fuel-wood for domestic use and burning bricks. The area is located about 30 kilometers from Blantyre and hence large quantities of charcoal that is used in Blantyre and surrounding townships come from this area
? Limited livelihood opportunities due to persistent hunger. This forces people to resort to unsustainable charcoal and fuel-wood selling hence massive deforestation on already overburdened forests
? Sale of trees from traditionally protected areas such as graveyards by traditional leaders. These leaders are supposed to be good custodians of graveyards but in surprisingly, they are the ones who connive with other people to buy the trees and use them for charcoal and burning bricks indigenous trees from the community by forestry extension workers who are supposed to be good custodians of forests
? Lack of willingness among the community to plant trees in replacement for those trees that have been cut and used.
The issues described above are compounded by the following problems:
? Lack of alternative sources of income by the community members in the wake of poor harvests and persistent poverty due to climate change
? Lack of community-driven awareness and dialogue on harmful practices and traditions that lead to land degradation and deforestation
? Lack of meaningful community involvement in identification, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of environmental programmes
? Lack of positive engagement between citizens who are regarded as perpetrators of deforestation and government environment enforcement agencies.