Uncertainty Surrounds Waterlily Harvesting in Elephant Marsh
Women and girls often engage in this task, even when it involves searching for waterlilies in deep water.
Chiwakwa, Malawi — Authorities responsible for Mwabvi Wildlife Reserve in the Shire Valley districts of Chikwawa and Nsanje are uncertain about the quantity of waterlilies harvested from the Elephant Marsh, writes Cornelius Lupenga.
These waterplants are collected in large volumes for food and sale.
Twambi Chimimba, Senior Parks and Wildlife Assistant (Education and Extension), expressed the need for a mechanism to determine the volume of waterlilies harvested from the area.
Currently, neither Mwabvi Wildlife Reserve nor the Department of Fisheries has established the exact quantity of waterlilies harvested annually.
Chimimba, a student at Southern African Wildlife studying Natural Resources Management (Terrestrial) in South Africa, emphasized the importance of tracking the quantity of waterlilies being collected, especially since they are sold, which generates income for the harvesters.
Group Village Headman Ntchenyera echoed these sentiments, explaining that people from all walks of life visit the Elephant Marsh to collect waterlilies.
Women and girls often engage in this task, even when it involves searching for waterlilies in deep water.
The Elephant Marsh is the primary habitat for waterlilies, covering an area of 61,566 hectares, stretching from Nsanje to Chikwawa. 🌿🌸 #Malawi #Conservation #Waterlilies