Werner Myburgh, CEO of Peace Parks Foundation, is accompanying a delegation from the Malawi Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Wildlife and others to appreciate the progress made in Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve and Nyika National Park. Here, they arrive in Vwaza to check in on some exciting projects underway in the reserve. These include projects that address water security, housing, mitigation of human-wildlife conflict and environmental conservation.
The community puts on a special celebration for Werner and the host of other invited guests. This huge turnout shows just how well collaboration efforts are working between Peace Parks and partners in the community. This is the basis of Peace Parks’ success in southern Africa: keeping the communities – who are the guardians of the regions – at the heart of decisions.
The media are out in force, all keen to hear from the country’s Minister for Tourism, Culture and Wildlife, Hon Dr. Michael Usi, who welcomes in a new age for conservation in Malawi.
The Minister and his delegation are accompanied by Peace Parks Foundation, the German Embassy, Malawi’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW), and traditional leaders. Projects visited by Minister Usi include the renovation of 136 staff houses and admin offices, the inauguration of a 70km solar-powered electric fence around Vwaza, the rehabilitation of ground water sources such as dams, and the fitting of satellite collars on one of six animals selected from herds living on the Nyika Plateau.
These and a host of other projects are funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development through the German Development Bank (KfW) implemented by Peace Parks, in collaboration with communities and the DNPW.
Peace Parks Foundation is proud to contribute to the development and protection of Malawi’s conservation areas and grateful to all their donors. It is only through collaborations such as these, that the planet’s most precious resources can be protected, ensuring that the balance between people and nature is restored.
