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Through your generous support, the Nyika-Vwaza Trust in Malawi works with the
Department of National Parks and Wildlife to improve the conservation of wildlife
in the Nyika National Park and the Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve.
The Nyika-Vwaza (UK) Trust will provide the funding for year on year operational
costs and specific projects through the generosity of its supporters.
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Bridges Project
Why is this project needed?
From its inception, one of the most important contributions that the Malawi Trust has made to the conservation of the Nyika National Park has been the construction or renovation of bridges, 13 in all to date. Until now, these have been funded with the assistance of grants from the British High Commission in Malawi and Tusk Trust. Some bridges are based on steel girders and others on old lorry chassis acting as girders. As the availability of lorry chassis has decreased and the cost of steel has dramatically increaed, so the Malawi Trust has resorted to bluegum poles as girders. On all the bridges, wooden poles serve as joists and planking as the carriageway. The inspection and maintenance of these timber bridges is an annual requirement. Furthermore, new bridges are planned as new areas of the parks are made accessible to vehicular traffic, particularly in the underdeveloped Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve.
How will this project be implemented?
Every year, at the end of the season of Rains, the approaches and exits to all bridges have to be cleared of vegetation that has grown during the Rains. Worn or broken carriageway planks and joists have to be replaced and timber girders and bridge pylons may require repair. In addition, two new bridges are planned for the northern section of the Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve .
Our request
We ask for a commitment to fund this project at £2,000 for three to five years although costs may vary slightly year-to-year. If you would like to find out more about this project, including a detailed breakdown of project costs, please contact Harry Foot, Stowford Farm, Harford, Ivybridge, Devon, PL21 0JD; Tel: (0)1752 892632; Email: stowfoots@southdevon.org or Tom Lupton Tel: 01580 291658;
Email: tomlupton@btinternet.com
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