Thuma Ecosystem Conservation Project

A success story!

The eco system of Thuma Forest Reserve was literarily plundered by meat and ivory poachers, people cutting hardwood trees, burning charcoal and by the chopping   of whole bamboo growth in the reserve. Only through the co-operation of the Malawi Department of Forestry and    the Wildlife Action Group Malawi,, implemented in 1996, the pressure on the eco-system could be     reduced considerably!

Soon after the Wildlife Action Group Malawi took over the management of Thuma Forest Reserve, an administration camp was established and accommodation   for wildlife scouts and volunteers were built. In the first two years over 45 kilometres of roads and trucks were constructed, providing hundreds of jobs and income for the surrounding local communities. With regular intense patrolling of the area over 3000 poaching snares could be collected and about 50 pit traps for elephant and buffalo were refilled. Unnumbered piles of hardwood planks and charcoal pits have been confiscated or destroyed. Local villagers are now able to cut legally and controlled bamboo within the Forest Reserve.

Illegal activities could be reduced to a "sustainable" level and it was an unforgettable day as we discovered that the elephant had returned, after two years of management and law enforcement by the dedicated Wildlife Action Group scout team. Also buffalo, which were split up into small fragmented groups, can again be observed in herds of over 30 animals.

A key factor for this enormous success in conservation is also the engagement    of nature loving volunteers from around the world!

Today the Project Manager of Thuma Forest Reserve  patrols with only 13 wildlife scouts the 19.700 hectares of rugged terrain. The scouts are unarmed but fulfil their risky job with admirable dedication and pride. The multi- talents not only go on patrols and catch armed poachers barehanded, but work with volunteers, do camp duties, drive angry elephants out of  farmer's fields and accompany visitors coming to Thuma Forest Reserve.

In 2007 the Wildlife Action Group started extending its patrols into the Dedza Salima Forest Reserve, an extension of about 30.000 hectare to the south, which covers the important traditional migration route of elephants and buffalo.

The aim of the Thuma Forest Reserve Ecosystem Conservation project is the creation of a healthy and sustainable ecosystem for the benefit of its flora and fauna as well as for the people living around the project area.

The Thuma Forest Reserve Eco-System Rehabilitation Project is a conservation success story like not many others in Africa. We are proud to be able looking back at 12 years (low budged but highly successful) conservation work! 1996 there was no elephant anymore in Thuma, today there are about 100!

But the pressure on Thuma never stops. Now the elephants are causing problems in the surrounding villages. Raiding crops and endanger people!  All together more than 80 km of electric fence are needed to avoid further confrontation.

We want to have the neighbouring villagers as friends of the elephants, not as their enemies - help us to realize that!