Our Projects in Nyika National Park

Thazima Garden Project
This is an educational project started in 2008 to assist communities close the the Nyika National Park gate at Thazima to use their farmed land in a more productive way. The project will show that a greater variety of crops can be grown in the area which in turn will improve the health of the community. Over time it is hoped that surplus crops will be produced which can be sold at a profit to further benefit the community.

Early Controlled Burn Programme.
Dry season hot grass fires cause considerable damage to both flora and fauna. The Nyika high plateau forest areas, home to many bird species, are under threat. The Trust now carries out a yearly programme of early controlled burning to create a network of wide firebreaks across the Nyika high plateau. Cool burns early in the year cause little or no damage to the forest areas. Small animals and reptiles can escape from slow moving fires. Grasses and plants recover quickly after an early fire. The firebreaks prevent damaging late season fires sweeping across the plateau.
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Bridge Building
Over many years the wooden bridges have falend down or burnt by poachers. Burnt and rotten bridges restrict the movement of scout patrols around the park and make general management of the park more difficult. The trust recognised that if these bridges were to rebuilt using a steel base structure they would be much more resilient to fire and damage by poachers. A generous donation from the British High Commission in Lilongwe of £14,500 kick started the bridge building project. To date thirteen bridges have been replaced.
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Signpost Construction
Over the years the old wooden signposts guiding the way across the Nyika plateau have fallen into disrepair. Park visitors need clear signs to assist moving around the Nyika. Following a grant of £14,500 from the Malawi High Commission to be used to kick start the signpost reconstruction the trust began this project in 2006. To date approximately 60 signposts have been reconstructed in local stone.
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Road Maintenance
Due to heavy rainfall roads suffer badly from erosion. Badly maintained roads restrict the movement of visitors in Vwazaand Nyika. Badly maintained roads prevent rapid movement of scout patrols across the Nyika plateau. The trust now has a programme of yearly road maintenance funded out of general running costs. As funds allow the Trust will be identifying sections of road throughout the Nyika NP and Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve that require rebuilding. The works is done using a combination of a labour force and the trust's tractor and road grader.
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