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Table of contents
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Being a national centre for assemblage, growth, curation
and classification of a comprehensive collection of all plants in Malawi
the National Herbarium has contributed towards conservation of the biological
diversity. The National Herbarium is currently the focal point on plant
component of biological diversity related issues in Malawi and also is
a chair of the National Biodiversity Committee. It also chairs the Clearing
House Mechanism of the Convention on Biological Diversity which aims at
facilitating access to and the exchange of information on biological diversity
around the world. Furthermore, the National Herbarium is been voted to
house the National centre for invertebrate collection and identification
which will document and maintain reference material. |
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| The institution has a library, which holds over 790 accessions (e.g.
floras, monographs, botanical journals). The library is open to the general
public although books cannot be taken out. However, book can be obtained
on inter-library loan. |
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Botanic
Gardens
Aloe collection in Botanic gardens
The first Botanic Garden
was established in Zomba by Alexander Whyte between 1891 and 1895 and was
originally the grounds of the British Consul’s Residency (now the Government
Hostel). The garden was meant to be an experimental area for newly introduced
plants in order to promote agricultural enterprise. After Independence
the maintenance of the garden was entrusted to the Forestry Department
until it was transferred to the NHBG in 1987. To-date the NHBG has established
gardens in Lilongwe and Mzuzu cities. Lilongwe Botanic Garden occupies
the area between Area 18 roundabout and Capital Hill Offices and is bordered
by Presidential Way and Chayamba Road to the South and North respectively
and Kamuzi Procession Road to the west. Mzuzu Botanic Garden occupies the
old Lunyangwa Forest Reserve West of the Lunyangwa Agricultural Research
Station
The three botanic gardens
are involved in both in situ and ex situ conservation of
rare and endangered plant species, e.g. Wilddringtonia whytei (Mulanje
Cedar) and Khaya anthotheca (Mbawa). They also offer recreational
and educational services; propagate and sell a number of ornamental and
indigenous plants. |
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