Area km sq. (%) Area Km sq.
Wetland High Lake LevelLow Lake Level
Open water 1,054 (45%) 678 lake level
Typha swamp 640 (27.5%) 699 (28.5%)
Marsh 163 (7%) 300 (13%)
Flood plain grassland 220 (9.5%) 430 (8.5%)
Sub-total 2,077 2,077
Irrigated rice 29 (1.2%)
Dimba 90 (3.9%)
Sub-total 233 (10.3%)
Mozambique 2,680 sq. km (32%)
Water volume 1,017,000,000 – 2,635,000,000 cubic metres
Water depth max 5m
Water depth average 1.5 – 2.5 m
Water quality; salinity 1 – 2 o/oo up to 12 o/oo during minor recessions
Lake without an outlet
Total number of species 27
Average annual fish yield: 17,000 tonnes
Average value of fishery: 15 million USD
Total number of fishermen: approx. 6,000
Number of Palearctic migrant species 41
Total estimated bird population: 350,000
Estimated number of bird trapped per year 1,100,000
Number of bird species exceeding 1%
of the total world population 12
District Male FemaleTotal
Chilwa catchment, Zomba District 262,328 278,100 540,428
Chilwa catchment, Machinga District 68,384 76,187 144,571
Chilwa catchment, Phalombe District 108,482 122,966 231,448
Total Lake Chilwa Catchment 439,194 477,253 916,447
Population density in the catchment is approximately 162/sq. km.
a) abstraction within the catchment
b) degradation of the catchment
2. Shortage of wood for fuel, construction of fishing craft and buildings
3. Over trapping and shooting birds resident and migratory
2. Population increase
3. Soil erosion and siltation of the wetland
4. Destruction of riverine breeding grounds and sanctuaries for Lake fishes
5. Increased use of agro-chemicals affecting the water environment
6. Invasion by exotic plant species
Office of the District Commissioner, Private Bag 1, Machinga, Tel: Machinga 9
Office of the District Commissioner, Private Bag 32, Phalombe, Tel: 486 201/468 223
Lake Chilwa Wetland and Tel/Fax: 522 931
Catchment Management Project Cell : 830 860
P O BOX 1127 E-mail : chilwawetland@malawi.net
Zomba