Mulanje's cedar restoration support

Each year, students on the annual school trip scale the heights of the majestic Mulanje Massif and witness for themselves the desperate consequences of deforestation in the region. For this reason, we are so pleased to support the MMCT's cedar restoration programme.

The local conservation group, the Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust (MMCT) forecast the Mulanje Cedar would be extinct by 2020 and on our last trip, our guides recorded just seven of these magnificent trees were left standing. 

Through our fundraising, the trust has been able to plant 36,190 seedlings - 30,031 Cedar & 6,159 companion species -  across six locations on the mountain, covering 27 hectares. We are looking forward to seeing how they are coming along during our trip in October.

According to the Botanic Gardens Conservation International, the drastic reduction in the Mulanje cedar population is a result of excessive harvesting for timber. It is termite resistant and durable making it the preferred material for construction and is also fragrant for carving so is a very popular wood for domestic use too. An increase in the number of fires occurring on the mountain has also exacerbated the problem by reducing natural regeneration of new trees. As a result, the tree is now critically endangered and at risk of extinction in its natural habitat if action is not taken immediately to restore it.

For more information charting the changes in forestry between 2010 and today, take a look at this interesting site >>