LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Lilongwe City Council has teamed up with Lilongwe Wildlife centre in the capital for the ambitious US$ 800,000 (About MK100 million) Lilongwe Rivers Ecological Corridor Initiative which seeks to restore the city’s rivers and provide refuge for wildlife animals into their natural set up.
The ecological corridor is expected to have learning center, rehabilitation site for stressed up wildlife animals and recreation centre.
Director of Parks and Recreation Allan Kwanjana told environmental journalists after touring the site that plans are underway to engage the citizens on the project in considering that they are first people to benefit.
Kwanjana disclosed that the project is pegged at US$800,000 (About MK100 million) which will run for five years.
“As you know Lilongwe is surrounded by natural rivers such as Lilongwe River, Lingadzi River and other streams and they form a good ecosystem which currently is in danger due to environmental degradation. The aim of this project is to try to restore the natural state of this ecosystem.
“We will make sure that by-laws to government wildlife is serious executed the time of implementing the project. We want the community surrounding the corridor understand it fully for co-management ,” he said.
Lilongwe Wildlife Center General Manager Ian Dheygere disclosed that first phase of the infrastructure being constructed will be ready for public use in August 2021.
Dheygere hopes that once the project is fully done and utilized, Malawi will be able to generate from US$200,000 to US$300,000 annually through local and international visitors.
He disclosed that the facility will also provide medical care for wildlife animals that big five animals will not be available at the site.
“The project will help to improve Lilongwe city outlook while putting the city on the map as a tourist attraction and also to civic educate people on the importance of conserving nature and wildlife.We will be opening the facility in phases for the public to access the site,” says Dheygere.
Association of Environment Journalist (AEJ) President Mathews Malata observes that the facility’s revamp is long overdue saying Malawi has been sitting on natural gold for revenues.
Malata hopes that the project will help to reduce the issue of flooding and people in the city will be able to conserve the environment.
The ecological corridor covers over 145 hectors of land divided into two zones.