CISONECC Champions Community-Driven Biodiversity Protection in Lake Chilwa Basin

Machinga, 8 May 2025 — The Civil Society Network on Climate Change (CISONECC) convened a vibrant District and Community Dialogue on Biodiversity Protection Measures in the ecologically vital Lake Chilwa Basin, bringing into focus Traditional Authorities Chamba, Mchinguza, Kawonga, and Mposa in Machinga District.

The dialogue, held on 8 May 2025, brought together a diverse group of stakeholders — from Machinga District Council representatives to grassroots community structures including Area Development Committees (ADCs), Village Natural Resources Management Committees (VNRMCs), and Beach Village Committees (BVCs). The forum was a vital touchpoint for fostering bottom-up engagement in shaping biodiversity conservation and sustainable resource governance at the local level.

The dialogue sought to achieve three interconnected goals:

1. Orienting communities on relevant environmental policies and legal frameworks
2. Strengthening dialogue on sustainable natural resource management (NRM) practices specific to Machinga’s landscape
3. Promoting the use of district and village action plans as tools for long-term environmental protection
4. Grounding Policy in Practice

Mwayi Nkhathama from the Environmental Affairs Department delivered a comprehensive sensitization session on national policies and legislative instruments that govern biodiversity and resource protection. This grounding in policy was vital in equipping community leaders with the knowledge needed to engage in informed stewardship of natural resources.

Chris Kamuzanjira, Deputy District Forest Officer, emphasized the need to embed NRM priorities in local development planning processes. He highlighted how District Development Plans (DDPs) can serve as effective tools to institutionalize environmental concerns and promote cross-sectoral action. Kamuzanjira further underscored the Forest Department’s shift toward promoting alternative sustainable energy sources, especially cleaner cooking technologies, to reduce dependency on biomass and alleviate deforestation pressures in the basin.

Addressing Capacity and Enforcement Challenges

Richard Banda, District Fisheries Officer, shared candid insights into the challenges faced by the Fisheries Department, particularly the acute shortage of human resources. He noted the department’s strategic reliance on BVCs and Rearing Village Committees (RVCs) as local enforcement and monitoring arms. Banda also announced a symbolic public event planned to burn confiscated illegal fishing gear, particularly those seized during closed fishing seasons, to demonstrate the government’s commitment to law enforcement and transparency in natural resource governance.

Building Alliances for Biodiversity Resilience

A panel discussion featuring representatives from community committees illuminated the need for strengthened collaboration among district authorities, community-based institutions, and civil society actors. Panelists emphasized that sustainable management of the Lake Chilwa Basin hinges on coordinated action and shared responsibility. There was a unanimous call to deepen local partnerships to safeguard biodiversity, secure livelihoods, and enhance climate resilience for communities who rely on the basin’s fragile ecosystems.

Key Takeaways from the Dialogue:

– Policy awareness is fundamental to ensuring the sustainable use of biological resources.

– Cleaner cooking solutions are essential to reduce deforestation and pressure on forest ecosystems.

– Multi-Stakeholder collaboration — across government departments, local committees, and civil society — is the cornerstone of a resilient, biodiversity-rich Lake Chilwa Basin.

As climate pressures and human activities continue to strain Malawi’s natural ecosystems, such community-centered dialogues offer a critical platform for advancing inclusive environmental governance and catalyzing tangible change at the grassroots level.