The Nyika Vwaza (UK) Trust lecture and social evening was held at the Royal Geographical Society on 6th November. The big draw of the evening was the talk given by Jerry Kent and Lisa Holyhead's three year odyssey traveling around Africa in their trusty Land Rover. The talk included the showing of some 300 hundred stunning photographs drawing gasps of amazement from the audience of some 200 hundred people.
Jerry and Lisa invite you to visit their website at www.off2africa.org to discover more about their incredible journey.If you are planning on doing a similar trip then you can also email them at off2africa@ymail.com for advice.
Friday 9 November 2012
Saturday 6 October 2012
The 2012 Nyika-Vwaza (UK) Trust lecture and social evening.
This year’s annual lecture and social event, hosted by The Nyika-Vwaza (UK) Trust, will again be at the Royal Geographical Society, Exhibition Road entrance, London SW7 2AR on Tuesday 6 November 2012. Doors open at 6pm. The lecture starts at 6.45 pm.
We are very pleased that this year’s lecture will be given by Lisa Holyhead and Jerry Kent, who did a superb job as volunteer Trust Managers based at Chilinda during their travels in Africa. Now back in the UK, the title of their lecture is “One Land Rover, Two Lawyers, Three Years – Our 70,000 Mile Journey Through Africa”.
To apply for tickets go to the Events/RGS 2012 page on our website.This year’s annual lecture and social event, hosted by The Nyika-Vwaza (UK) Trust, will again be at the Royal Geographical Society, Exhibition Road entrance, London SW7 2AR on Tuesday 6 November 2012. Doors open at 6pm. The lecture starts at 6.45 pm.
We are very pleased that this year’s lecture will be given by Lisa Holyhead and Jerry Kent, who did a superb job as volunteer Trust Managers based at Chilinda during their travels in Africa. Now back in the UK, the title of their lecture is “One Land Rover, Two Lawyers, Three Years – Our 70,000 Mile Journey Through Africa”.
Tuesday 3 July 2012
Activity update
Up on the Nyika, the road grading season is under way. The Trust has had positive comments on the work so far. Mr Mteto, the Nyika National Park manager, has said of one section that it's "a dream - like a tarmac road"! Great praise indeed and well done to our team for their efforts! Meanwhile, the early controlled burn programme started at the end of May. Our team of permanent staff have greatly benefited from attending The Mount Mulanje Fire Training Seminar, which was led by members of the US Fire Service. Thanks to the Mount Mulanje Conservation Trust for inviting us along! And finally, Trust manager Geoff Wooles is cautiously optimistic about the several juniper transplants growing in the trial indigenous tree nursery.
Tuesday 22 May 2012
Tropical Agriculture Assocation Seminar May 2012
TAA-SW Seminar at Bicton College on Thursday 10 May 2012.
Agriculture in Malawi.
Report by Harry Foot on the Nyika Transfrontier Conservation Area.
After reminding participants of the role of the two Nyika-Vwaza Trusts (one in Malawi and one in the UK) HF recalled the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in 2004 at Chilinda in the heart of the Nyika National Park by Ministers of the Malawi and Zambia Governments expressing their intention to develop a TFCA between their two countries. He was delighted that after almost eight years of negotiations this objective had at last been achieved and the Nyika Transfrontier Conservation Area (NTFCA) was now in being. This was a 5-year project involving the participation of the two Governments, the World Bank, Peace Parks Foundation and Norway (Malawi) with the NVT (Malawi) being an implementing agency.
During the eight years of negotiations the original vision of a project area of some 20,000 square kms has been modified to approx. one third that size but happily both the Nyika National Park and the Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve still form part of the NTFCA. The Zambia section of the NTFCA has been reduced and now comprises the Zambia Nyika National Park, the Mitengi National Forest Reserve, and sections of the Lundazi National Forest Reserve part of which is proposed as the new Chama Nature Park. The original concept of a central Foundation with co-ordinating powers has been replaced with specific NTFCA departments within the relevant Ministries of both Governments.
Within the NTFCA project, NVT (Malawi) will continue to implement its established annual programme of conservation works as agreed with the Malawi Government’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife and the NV(UK)T will continue to provide funds for that programme. NVT (Malawi)’s responsibilities are being increased as the NTFCA budget includes some US$ 800,000 worth of new projects entrusted to NVT (Malawi) to implement, some of which are across the international border in the Zambia Nyika National Park Some help will be provided by the appointment of an Assistant Manager who will be funded through the NTFCA budget. This person will be based in Mzuzu with prime responsibility for Vwaza thus enabling NVT’s volunteer Managers to concentrate on the operations in the two Nyika National Parks. These developments provide the NVT (Malawi) with new challenges, especially working for the first time within an international project, but it is encouraging that an additional source of funding is now on stream enabling the conservation programme to be expanded. It is also gratifying that NVT(Malawi) is trusted to be an implementing agent of the NTFCA project in both Malawi and Zambia.
An interesting consequence of these developments is the boost that is being given to the movement towards a scientific approach to conservation issues. Already, as NTFCA requirements, environmental impact studies are being required before some projects are implemented and, very significantly, the NTFCA project includes funding for the establishment of a Research Centre at Chilinda. These changes chime well with the policy of the Nyika-Vwaza Trusts which have already moved to make informed decisions on scientific rationale by securing the support and involvement of 17 Patroni Naturae, all scientists or experienced nature conservationists.
Thus, with the reaffirmation by the two Governments of their commitment to the conservation of the NTFCA the future for its precious fauna and flora looks hopeful.
Agriculture in Malawi.
Report by Harry Foot on the Nyika Transfrontier Conservation Area.
After reminding participants of the role of the two Nyika-Vwaza Trusts (one in Malawi and one in the UK) HF recalled the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in 2004 at Chilinda in the heart of the Nyika National Park by Ministers of the Malawi and Zambia Governments expressing their intention to develop a TFCA between their two countries. He was delighted that after almost eight years of negotiations this objective had at last been achieved and the Nyika Transfrontier Conservation Area (NTFCA) was now in being. This was a 5-year project involving the participation of the two Governments, the World Bank, Peace Parks Foundation and Norway (Malawi) with the NVT (Malawi) being an implementing agency.
During the eight years of negotiations the original vision of a project area of some 20,000 square kms has been modified to approx. one third that size but happily both the Nyika National Park and the Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve still form part of the NTFCA. The Zambia section of the NTFCA has been reduced and now comprises the Zambia Nyika National Park, the Mitengi National Forest Reserve, and sections of the Lundazi National Forest Reserve part of which is proposed as the new Chama Nature Park. The original concept of a central Foundation with co-ordinating powers has been replaced with specific NTFCA departments within the relevant Ministries of both Governments.
Within the NTFCA project, NVT (Malawi) will continue to implement its established annual programme of conservation works as agreed with the Malawi Government’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife and the NV(UK)T will continue to provide funds for that programme. NVT (Malawi)’s responsibilities are being increased as the NTFCA budget includes some US$ 800,000 worth of new projects entrusted to NVT (Malawi) to implement, some of which are across the international border in the Zambia Nyika National Park Some help will be provided by the appointment of an Assistant Manager who will be funded through the NTFCA budget. This person will be based in Mzuzu with prime responsibility for Vwaza thus enabling NVT’s volunteer Managers to concentrate on the operations in the two Nyika National Parks. These developments provide the NVT (Malawi) with new challenges, especially working for the first time within an international project, but it is encouraging that an additional source of funding is now on stream enabling the conservation programme to be expanded. It is also gratifying that NVT(Malawi) is trusted to be an implementing agent of the NTFCA project in both Malawi and Zambia.
An interesting consequence of these developments is the boost that is being given to the movement towards a scientific approach to conservation issues. Already, as NTFCA requirements, environmental impact studies are being required before some projects are implemented and, very significantly, the NTFCA project includes funding for the establishment of a Research Centre at Chilinda. These changes chime well with the policy of the Nyika-Vwaza Trusts which have already moved to make informed decisions on scientific rationale by securing the support and involvement of 17 Patroni Naturae, all scientists or experienced nature conservationists.
Thus, with the reaffirmation by the two Governments of their commitment to the conservation of the NTFCA the future for its precious fauna and flora looks hopeful.
Friday 13 April 2012
Welcome to the Nyika Vwaza Trust’s second blog entry for 2012.
Nyika is looking beautiful and green at this time of year. The pastures are attracting large herds of eland (200+) and are seen only 3 kms from the Chilinda camp. The zebra are always nearby to greet us as we come and go from home. It is pleasing to note the number of young with the eland, zebra and roan.
There are plenty of beautiful orchids to be seen edging the dambos and settled in attractive
clumps on the northern and eastern slopes of many of the ridges.
When our chairperson Chris Walker and Geoff visited Lake Kazuni at Vwaza Marsh, game was
plentiful, including: a herd of 11 elephant, a small pod of hippos near the shore, a large number
of kudu and impala. Wart hogs were seen trotting into the undergrowth.
Nyika is looking beautiful and green at this time of year. The pastures are attracting large herds of eland (200+) and are seen only 3 kms from the Chilinda camp. The zebra are always nearby to greet us as we come and go from home. It is pleasing to note the number of young with the eland, zebra and roan.
There are plenty of beautiful orchids to be seen edging the dambos and settled in attractive
clumps on the northern and eastern slopes of many of the ridges.
When our chairperson Chris Walker and Geoff visited Lake Kazuni at Vwaza Marsh, game was
plentiful, including: a herd of 11 elephant, a small pod of hippos near the shore, a large number
of kudu and impala. Wart hogs were seen trotting into the undergrowth.
Thursday 19 January 2012
At the end of 2011, there were no less than FIVE sightings of African wild dogs on the Nyika! – they have not been seen for many years. Meanwhile, preparation for the indigenous tree nursery has begun, despite the onset of the rains on the Nyika. Brick-making for the new permanent housing for local NVT staff has also started. Silt excavated from Dam 1 is being used to make vegetable gardens for our permanent and casual workers and we continue to clear tourist road drains to prevent unnecessary water-fed erosion. Our volunteer manager, Patsy, continues to work with the local school at Chilinda, sharing new ideas with the teachers, and language lessons for our workers will begin again shortly.
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