2025 Project Summary
A grant of £900 to support the purchase of equipment to set up tree nurseries among the communities of Michiru Mountain Nature Reserve, Blantyre.
Lindsey Macdonald of Blantyre WESM explained that in late 2023 Michiru Mountain Nature Reserve was overrun by organised gangs poaching trees to make charcoal. Since then, WESM Blantyre has been working with the police, TAs, the Department of Forestry and Centre for Environmental Policy & Advocacy, to help the neighbouring communities stop this poaching. Volunteer rangers patrol the area, local villages are helping regrowing Michiru’s lower slopes and bee-keeping has been introduced. Together, these activities are helping to families to support their incomes, their environment and recreate a safe space for visitors.
The FOMA grant has provided supporting to the local communities in growing and managing their own woodlots will help alleviate pressure on the protected forest and WESM Blantyre Branch has carried out training workshops for 15 schools and 5 community-based groups surrounding Michiru Nature Sanctuary.