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| Biosphere Reserve Information | ||||
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MOUNT MULANJE |
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| General Description | The Mount Mulanje Biosphere Reserve, which is the first in Malawi, is situated half way between the mountain chains and upland areas extending from the Ethiopian Highlands to South Africa. It has a rich biodiversity with a high level of endemism. The national tree of Malawi, the Mulanje cedar (Widdringtonia whytei) is very valuable in silviculture and for socio-economic development and its protection and sustainable use is of priority concern. There are three main ethnic groups and several minorities living in the area. The land-use activities are agriculture and pastoralism, selective logging and extraction of medicinal plants and other non-timber forest products, as well as ecotourism. The mountain also has a cultural significance since it is believed to be the host for ancestral sprits. These sites are now used as shrines or for traditional rites. | |||
| Major ecosystem type | Mixed mountain and highland systems | |||
| Major habitats & land cover types | Montane evergreen forest including Widdringtonia whytei, Podocarpus latifolius, Aphloia theiformis etc.; dwarf montane forest, thicket and Ericaceous belt including Widdringtonia cupresoides (dwarf form of Mulanje cedar), Philippia benguellensis, Myrica pilulifera etc.; montane shrubland and grassland with shrubs such as Aloe mawii, Blaeria kivuensis, Crassula sarcocaulis etc.; submontane forest with Chrysophyllum gorungosanum, Newtonia buchananii, Myrianthus holstii etc.; fringing, mid-altidude forests with Newtonia buchananii, Albizia adianthifolia, Funtumia africana etc.; fringing low-altitude forests including Khaya anthotheca, Newtonia buchananii, Pericopsis angolensis etc.; Brachystegia woodland with Bequaertiodendron magalismontanum, Erythrophleum suaveolens, Ficus exasperata etc. | |||
| Location | 15°50' to 16°03'S; 35°30' to 35°47'E | |||
| Area (hectares) | ||||
| Total | 45,130 | |||
| Core area(s) | 16,540 | |||
| Buffer zone(s) | 4,615 | |||
| Transition area(s) when given | 23,975 | |||
| Altitude (metres above sea level) | +3,002 | |||
| Year designated | 2000 | |||
| Administrative authorities | Forestry Deparment, Government of Malawi | |||
| Last updated: 5/16/2002 |
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