Recreation, environment - and conflict of interest

Last weekend there was no contribution on this blog.  The reason is simple:  Birgit and I spent the extended Mother's Day weekend in Mulanje Mountains and Zomba Plateau without internet-connection.  A small account of our experience is therefore following this weekend.

Beauty of the Mulanje Mountains

Mulanje Mountains is the highest mountains in Malawi, with its highest peak reaching just above 3000 meters above sea level.  The lower part of the mountains are moderate steep, and covered with a combination of indigenous and pine trees.

We stayed at a lodge belonging to the Presbyterian Church at the foothills of the mountain, in a self-contained chalet.  

While our hikes during the two days were limited to staying within the forest-covered lower part of the massif, we experienced the greatness of the nature.  The Waterfall, with its natural pool for swimming just below, was the playground for a group of scouts who stayed next-door to us.  Their joy of experiencing the nature, and enjoying swimming in the clear and chilly pond was refreshing.  Scouting is a global movement, and we clearly saw that Malawian girls and boys enjoyed life in Mother nature the same way scouts in Norway enjoy outdoor life!

The scout group under the Waterfall

The last day of our weekend we spent on the Zomba Plateau, a steep climb up from the old colonial capital Zomba.  The Plateau is a forest covered area with rivers, dams and excellent roads and paths for both biking and walking.  Zomba Plateau is at the same time a symbol of conflict of interest between environmental and recreational needs on the one hand, and survival for the common man on the other.

During our hike we met several men who obviously cut trees and brought firewood back to the market in Zomba and surroundings.  Every day they were climbing the steep ascent from Zomba.  You will have an impression of the view from the "Emperor's Viewpoint", a place visited by Emperor Haile Sellaise in 1965.

View from the "Emperor's Viewpoint gives an impression of the climb from Zomba

Thomas, who is in the right side of the photo below, makes the 10 km. climb with his bicycle every morning, uses the day together with his friend Lawrence cutting and splitting wood, loads his bicycle and makes it back to Zomba and the market in the evening.  According to him, this hard work may earn him USD 7 - 8 per day.  This brings his income clearly above the average daily earnings of the masses of Malawi.  The fact that he, and hundreds of other wood cutters, are depleting the forest and disturbing the environment seems to be beyond their concern.

Heavy load of firewood on its way 

to the market

Thomas and Lawrence cutting wood for a living

Preserving precious forest areas is clearly in tension with creating livelihood for many families who do not see many other options for their upkeep.  Government and many good forces obviously need to work on policies and practices that can remove this tension and create win-win situations.