The Michiru Forest Reserve In Malawi Is In Serious Trouble. This Iconic Forest, Home To A Variety Of Wildlife And Providing Direct Benefits To Local Communities, Is On The Brink Of Destruction. Over The Years, The Forest Has Faced Pressure From A Growing Population, Agricultural Expansion, Urbanization, And Poaching, Leading To Its Degradation. The Damage Was Further Exacerbated By The Impacts Of The COVID-19 Pandemic And Cyclone Freddy. It Is Estimated That Michiru Forest Has Now Lost Over 1,904 Hectares, With Most Of These Being Indigenous Tree Species. The Destruction Of The Forest Has Also Severely Impacted Tourism In The Area.
The Wildlife And Environmental Society Of Malawi (WESM) – BirdLife Partner In Malawi – Is Calling For Urgent Action To Save Michiru Forest From Destruction. WESM Is Working With Government Agencies, Local Communities, And Other Key Stakeholders To Bring This Environmental Carnage To An Immediate Stop. They Have Also Begun A Petition To Create Awareness On The Issue And Are Calling For Urgent Financial Support To Rehabilitate The Forest And Put In Place A Management Plan. This Plan Should Be Developed In Partnership With Local Communities, Civil Society Organizations, Academia, And The Wider Public. WESM Is Also Calling For Enhanced Awareness Raising Amongst The Local Communities To Profile The Importance Of The Forest. The Michiru Forest Is A Vital Part Of The Environment And Needs To Be Saved For The Sake Of This And Future Generations.