The World Conservation Monitoring Centre provides information services on conservation and sustainable use of the world's living resources, and helps others to develop information systems of their own.

IUCN Management Category II (National Park)

X (World Heritage Site; Criteria: ii, iii, iv)

Biogeographical Province 3.29.14 (Lake Malawi)

Geographical Location On and around Nankumba Peninsula at the southern end of Lake Malawi, including Boadzulu, Maleri and other offshore islands, Mwenya and Nkhudzi Hills, and Nkhudzi Spit, in Mangochi District of the Southern Region of Malawi and Salinal District of the Central Region, and including a 100m strip of water around these land areas. Approximately 14°02'S, 34°53'E

Date and History of Establishment 24 November 1980, under the National Parks Act NP (Est) Order 1980, Govt. Notice No. 205 of 1980. Most of the area was previously classified in forest reserves; some of the islands have been protected since 1934. It protects several disjunct terrestrial areas and all lake waters within 100m of these areas. Inscribed on the World Heritage list in 1984.

Area 9,400ha

Land Tenure Government

Altitude Up to 1,140m

Physical Features The park includes Cape Maclear Peninsula, which is the headland separating the south-east and south-west arms of the lake, two smaller headlands in the south-east and twelve islands. The protected area includes the headlands and islands themselves and an aquatic zone extending 100m offshore. Nankumba Peninsula projects into Lake Malawi, and has poor soils susceptible to erosion. Cape Maclear, at the north of the peninsula, is an area of steep wooded rocky hills, predominantly composed of biotite-granite. In general, the hills rise steeply from the lakeshore but there are a number of sandy bays including a fine beach in the Chembe-Otter Point area. The lake is unique, forming a separate biogeographical province. It is estimated to be between one and two million years old and forms part of the Western Rift Valley. By virtue of its tropical setting, Lake Malawi is permanently stratified, having a warm epilimnion overlying a cooler hypolimnion. Lake water is remarkably clear. The lake experiences marked seasonal variations in wind, temperature and rainfall. Water level fluctuates according to season with a long-term cycle of fluctuation over years, recent years having seen increases to the highest levels since recording began (probably due to increased rainfall and forest clearing on the high plateau). All islands are entirely, or mainly, of rock separated from one another and from the mainland by sandy plains and deep water. Habitat types vary from rocky shorelines to sandy beaches and from wooded hillsides to swamps and lagoons. A range of underwater habitats are represented including the sandy zone, the weedy zone, the rock-sand interface, the intermediate zone and the reed beds.

Climate Mean annual temperature is 27°C. Annual rainfall averages 500mm, but is very variable.

Vegetation The terrestrial areas of the park, excluding the smallest islands, were once heavily wooded. Originally, this was a characteristic community containing baobab Adansonia digitata and several species of Ficus, Sterculia, Khaya, and Albizia . The ground flora has not been studied in depth. Due to clearing of the forest, some woodland areas have been altered to shrubby vegetation. The upper slopes are covered by escarpment Brachystegia dominated by B. glaucescens.

Fauna Lake Malawi contains the largest number of fish species of any lake in the world, probably over 500 from ten families with perhaps half occurring in the park area. Endemism is high (thought to exceed 90%) and adaptive radiation and speciation within the lake is remarkable. Particularly noteworthy are the Cichlidae, of which all but five of over 400 species are endemic to Lake Malawi. The lake contains 30% of all known cichlid species (Ribbink et al., 1983). Of particular interest is the 'mbuna' rock fish. More than 70% of mbuna are undescribed and the taxonomic affinities of many are uncertain. Other fish species include 28 endemic to the lake. Mammals include hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius, leopard Panthera pardus (T), greater kudu Tragelaphus strepsiceros, bushbuck T. scriptus, zebra Equus burchelli, klipspringer Oreotragus oreotragus, impala Aepyceros melampus, grey duiker Sylvicapra grimmia, chacma baboon Papio ursinus, vervet monkey Cercopithecus aethiops, bush pig Potamochoerus porcus and occasional elephant Loxodonta africana (V) (reported as coming down to the lake between the Mwemya and Nkhudzi Hills). The varied birdlife includes fish eagle Haliaeetus vocifer along the shoreline. The islands, especially Mumbo and Boadzulu, are important nesting areas for several thousand white-breasted cormorant Phalacrocorax lucidus. Reptiles include crocodile Crocodylus niloticus (V) and abundant water monitor lizards Varanus niloticus on Boadzulu Island. A list of snakes is given in Tweddle (1984).

Cultural Heritage No information

Local Human Population Five shoreline villages, Chembe, Masaka, Mvunguti, Zambo and Chidzale, are included within enclaves in the park. The park has been zoned so that traditional fishing methods aimed at catching migratory fish are permitted in limited areas, although in most of the park the resident fish are completely protected. Some 16,000 people make a living from the Lake and 40,000 tonnes of fish are taken annually for local consumption (Lewis, et al., 1986).

Visitors and Visitor Facilities There is some tourist development within the boundaries. Several small hotels are planned which will be designed to blend in with the environment. The recreation site at Cape Maclear is heavily used and includes a resthouse, bar, caravan and camping site.

Scientific Research and Facilities There are research and monitoring programmes. Research has concentrated on fish, mainly by the Department of Fisheries which has its research headquarters near the park at Monkey Bay.

Conservation Value No information

Conservation Management Established under the National Park Act (Cap. 66: 07), primarily to protect examples of Lake Malawi's aquatic communities. The management plan is being implemented. As part of the preparation of the plan, a special study of the area was carried out to assess the impact of the park on the local population, including a comprehensive review of the resources. There are plans to plant trees in a 1,200ha section in the south of the peninsula to supply fuelwood and poles to local people. A managed fishing zone is to be established off the mainland incorporating some islands within the park, but trawling will be prohibited. Other fishing methods such as gill netting, long line and trapping are prohibited within the 100m aquatic zone. Conservation zones are proposed around the park. The management plan details four zones within the park: special zone, wilderness zone, natural zone and general zone. Most of the terrestrial area is in the natural or wilderness zones and the lacustrine area is in the special zone. A forestry nursery has been started in the park to begin reforestation of the peninsula. The goal is to plant 30,000 seedlings annually both in the park and in nearby village enclaves for future firewood and building purposes. Reforestation of the peninsula is a critical element in projection of the water quality. A small demonstration plot adjacent to junior staff housing is expected to provide fuelwood to staff members. The World Wide Fund for Nature is sponsoring the development of an environmental education complex located within the park boundaries at Cape Maclear. The initial complex will consist of an environmental interpretation centre, an aquarium, and a research library/conference area, all to be operational by 1990. Future development will include a youth hostel and glass-bottomed boat for aquatic interpretation. The focus of the centre will be aimed at educating local people, as well as international visitors. Exhibits will range from the formation of the rift valley to historical and cultural heritage, the creation of the park, designation as a World Heritage site, and the importance of protecting the resource (T.R.G. Jalale, pers. comm., 1990).

Management Constraints Although there are no human settlements within the boundaries much of the lakeshore is heavily populated. Villages on the peninsula (population of about 5,400 in 1977) are cut off between the park and the lake and local people are dependent on fishing for a livelihood as the soil is poor and crop failure frequency is about 50%. The brightly-coloured 'mbuna' provide a substantial export trade to collectors. Clearing of timber for building, firewood and cultivation has increased (particularly on Nankoma Island, part of Mumbo Island, around Chembe village and the Mwenya and Nkhudzi Hills). Unsightly and unplanned visitor shacks at Cape Maclear will be removed when a new lodge is built. The lake is polluted by powerboats at Cape Maclear. Because of the limnological aspects of the lake, should it be contaminated, the renewal time would be in the order of 1,700 years. The size of water area of the park is only 700ha (0.04% of total lake area) and it is recognised that the integrity of the park can only be ensured by the proper management of the whole lake.

Staff Five full-time and seven temporary workers (1984)

Budget Annual budget of US$ 50,000

Local Addresses

Parks and Wildlife Officer, Lake Malawi National Park, PO Box 48, Monkey Bay

References

Clarke, J.E. (1983). Protected areas masterplan for the Southern Region. Department of National Parks and Wildlife, Lilongwe.

Croft, T. A. (1981). Lake Malawi: A Case Study in Conservation Planning. Parks 6(3): 7-11.

IUCN/WWF Project 1983. Malawi, Conservation of threatened island community in the Lake Malawi National Park.

Lake Malawi National Park Master Plan (1981). Department of National Parks and Wildlife, Lilongwe.

Lewis, P., Reinthal, P. and Trendall, J. (1986). A guide to the fishes of Lake Malawi National Park. WWF, Gland, Switzerland. 71 pp.

Ribbink, A.J. Marsh, A.C., Ribbinck, A.C. and Sharp, B.J. (1983). A preliminary survey of the cichlid fish of the rocky habitats of Malawi. African Journal of Zoology 18(3): 149-310.

Tweddle, D. (1984). Snakes of the Lake Malawi National Park. Nyala 10(1): 43-44.

Date March 1983, revised October 1986, March 1990

0287P

For further information contact: Information Office, WCMC, 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 0DL, UK Information enquiries Tel: +44 (0)1223 277722 Main switchboard Tel: +44 (0)1223 277314 Fax: +44 (0)1223 277136 Email: info@wcmc.org.uk Document URL: http:// www.wcmc.org.uk /protected_areas/data/sample/0287p.htm Revision date: 11-December-2000 | Current date: 14-December-2000				Latest News from WCMC
Home	Comments	© WCMC