FORESTRY   RESEARCH   INSTITUTE   OF   MALAWI (FRIM) FORESTRY POLICY ACTION PLAN (1997-2000):FRIM

FORESTRY POLICY ACTION PLAN (1997-2000): FRIM

POLICY OBJECTIVE 1: Enable and promote the participation of local communities and the private sector in forest conservation and management, eliminating restrictions on sustainable harvesting of essential forest products by local communities and promoting planned harvesting and regeneration of forest resources by Village Natural Resources Management Committees (VNRMCs).
 

STRATEGY	PLANNED ACTIVITIES	STAKE HOLDERS	EVALUATION CRITERIA	TIME PLAN
4. Encourage co-management of forests and forest resources	Identify forest reserves and plantations for co-management. Conduct training for both communities and field staff	DF, Planning Unit, FRIM. FRIM, MCFW, FESD, RFO, DFO	6 forest reserves and 6 plantations identified for co-management. 50 VNRCs (20 from forest reserves, 30 from plantations) and 30 field staff trained in aspects of co-management	By September, 1997    By December, 1999

 

POLICY OBJECTIVE 2:

Empower rural communities to manage forest resources, forester ownership and rights to trees and ensure that such trees are utilised sustainably for the benefit of both present and future generations
 

4.Promote and protect the marketing of indigenous technical knowledge (ITK) about the medicinal and other properties of Malawi forest resources

Initiate stakeholder dialogue with a view to improve attitudes towards indigenous knowledge about medicinal plants and other properties

FD, MDH, HAB, NHBG, Medicines Board, Drugs Board, FRIM, UNIMA, CSSMA, MEPC, Patent Board, MPL, MBS, WSM, IUCN

Forum provided and collaboration developed and enhanced

By December, 1997

 

POLICY OBJECTIVE 5:Provide appropriate incentives for the identification, protection and management of key sites of unique biodiversity, water catchments and areas of historic interest.
 

STRATEGY	PLANNED ACTIVITIES	STAKE HOLDERS	EVALUATION CRITERIA	TIME PLAN
2.Ensure that rural communities’ wealth of information regarding biodiversity, ecology and historical areas is respected and rewarded	Document and publish the wealth of information available in the community which will own the book rights Produce and update regularly at intervals maps and information depicting names and uses of valuable plant species	FRIM, NHBG, CSR          DFO, NHBG, FRIM, NGOs, NRC, UNIMA, HAM	Information documented and publicised        Maps and pamphlets produced and distributed	By March, 1998 and ongoing      By June 1998 – annually and ongoing

POLICY OBJECTIVE 6:

Ensure that harvesting and exporting of forest products comply with laws and regulations; both nationally and internationally.
 

1.Effectively apply procedures and standards for harvesting timber and other forest products.  2. Promote code of conduct and standards for import and export of forest products

Develop timber forest produce harvesting procedures and standards Develop guidelines for import and export of forest products

DF, FRIM, TiAM, MCFW, RFO    Director, Customs, MEPC, FRIM, TiAM, Plant Protection Board.

Procedures and standards developed    Import and export guidelines developed.

Ongoing       By June 1998

 

POLICY OBJECTIVE 7: Undertake well-designed and relevant research programs to generate usable technologies
 

STRATEGY	PLANNED ACTIVITIES	STAKE HOLDERS	EVALUATION CRITERIA	TIME PLAN
1.Promote research into regeneration using truncheons	Develop a research project on regeneration of truncheon Conduct research and publish results to users Undertake on-farm research	FRIM, VNRMCs, RFO, DFO, NGOs, Donors FRIM, Director, FESD    FRIM, NHBG, BCA, DARTS, ICRAF, UNIMA	A research project developed    Research conducted and results published and disseminated. ‘On farm’ research developed and under implementation.	By December 1997    By June 1999    On going
2.Promote research into increased tree productivity on-farm, individual woodlots, plantations and woodlands	Undertake on-farm research Undertake research into tree improvement of plantation species Undertake research into silvicultural systems of natural woodlands Publish and disseminate results to users	FRIM, NHBG, BCA, DARTS, ICRAF, UNIMA FRIM    FRIM, NHBG       FRIM	On farm’ research developed and under implementation Research on tree improvement of plantation species initiated Research on silvicultural systems of natural woodlands under implementation Interim results published and disseminated to users	On going    On going    On going       By October 1998

 
 

STRATEGY	PLANNED ACTIVITIES	STAKE HOLDERS	EVALUATION CRITERIA	TIME PLAN
3.Promote multiple land use system in which trees are a component	Develop interventions that promote use of trees in land-use systems Assess and capture indigenous technical knowledge on multiple land-use systems Document and disseminate intervention technologies to users	FRIM, LRB, DARTS, ICRAF FRIM, NHBG, CSR, NGOs    FRIM, DF, FESD, CURE	Interventions that promote use of trees in land use systems developed. ITK on multiple land use systems assessed and captured Intervention technologies, documented and disseminated	On going    On going    On going
4. Design and test methodologies for assessing productivity for the efficient use of timber and non-timber products and utilization of natural woodlands	Identify problem areas Design and test methodologies Publish and disseminate results	FRIM, RFOs, TiAM, VNRMCs, NGOs FRIM, CSR FRIM, CSR	Problem areas identified and documented Methodologies designed and tested Test results published and disseminated.	On going On going On going
5.Develop techniques for protecting trees from pests, diseases and other non-biological factors	Undertake research into biological, chemical and cultural control methods of pests and diseases Undertake impact studies on pests and diseases and their control methods Publish and disseminate results	FRIM, DARTS, ICRAF, UNIMA, IIBC, PPRI    FRIM, DARTS, CSR, DF, DFOs FRIM, DARTS	Research on biological, chemical and cultural control methods of pests and diseases under implementation Impact studies on pests and diseases and their control methods undertaken Results published and disseminated	On going       On going    On going

 

STRATEGY	PLANNED ACTIVITIES	STAKE HOLDERS	EVALUATION CRITERIA	TIME PLAN
6.Promote research in taxonomy and ecology of both indigenous and exotic trees	Undertake taxonomic studies including establishment of taxonomic trials Collect botanic samples Establish arboreta Establish in situ conservation areas Undertake vegetation surveys Conduct ecological studies on some indigenous trees	FRIM, NHBG, UNIMA       FRIM,NHBG,UNIMA FRIM, NHBG FRIM,NHBG,DFOs, VNRCs, ARET FRIM,NHBG, Survey Section FRIM, NHBG, UNIMA, NPW	Taxonomic studies undertaken    Botanic samples collected Arboreta established In situ conservation areas established    Vegetation surveys undertaken and maps updated Ecological studies on indigenous trees conducted	On going       On going On going On going       By Jan, 2000 On going
7.Identify and evaluate suitable tree species for different sites and purposes and where appropriate undertake their genetic improvement and conservation	Establish species provenance trials in different sites and for different purposes Undertake genetic improvement programs of germplasm Document, publish disseminate results and information	FRIM       FRIM     FRIM, DF	Species provenance trials established    Genetic improvement programs and germplasm improved Results and information documented, published and disseminated	On going       On going    On going
8.Determine and consolidate appropriate propagation, establishment and regeneration techniques for different types of forest and trees	Undertake research into propagation, establishment and regeneration of tree species Publish and disseminate research results	FRIM        FRIM	Research into propagation, establishment and regeneration of tree species undertaken Research results published and disseminated	On going          On going

 

STRATEGY	PLANNED ACTIVITIES	STAKE HOLDERS	EVALUATION CRITERIA	TIME PLAN
9.Investigate appropriate management systems and techniques for different types of forest and trees	Collate existing information on different types of forest trees Identify problems associated with management of those forests Design, test and select the best management systems Document, publish and disseminate results	FRIM, NHBG, UNIMA    FRIM, NHBG, UNIMA, DFO    FRIM, NHBG    FRIM, NHBG	Existing information collated for co-management of forest reserves and plantations Problems associated with management of forest and trees identified Management systems designed, tested and selected Results documented, published and disseminated	By April, 1998 and On going  By June, 1998       By Jan, 2000    By April, 2000
10.Design and administer effective methods of disseminating research findings and technical information to users and beneficiaries	Operationalise and strengthen the information and technical services strategy area. Develop linkages with users and beneficiaries	FRIM       FRIM	Information and technical services strategy area strengthened and operational Linkages with users and beneficiaries developed	By December, 1997       By April, 1998
11.Promote and improve the supply of high quality and improved tree seed particularly indigenous seed and germplasm	Identify areas for seed collection Collect seed Process and test seed Distribute seed to consumers	FRIM FRIM, NGOs FRIM, MAFE FRIM, NGOs	Areas for collection identified Seed collected Seed processed and tested Seed distributed to consumers	On going On going On going
12.Prepare and implement suitable plans for conducting forest, and biological inventories of existing resources	Prepare plans Test methods for implementing the plans on pilot scale Carry our final inventories Document, publish and disseminate results	FRIM, Planning Unit FRIM, Planning Unit    FRIM FRIM, DF	Plans prepared Methods tested on pilot scale Inventories carried out Results documented, published and disseminated	By October, 1998 By March, 1999 By December, 2000 By June, 2001
STRATEGY	PLANNED ACTIVITIES	STAKE HOLDERS	EVALUATION CRITERIA	TIME PLAN
13.Enhance production of zonation maps that define broad categories of forest/land management as productive forest, limited forest, completely protected areas for watershed protection, threat of soil erosion and complete protection on the grounds	Plan for surveys Carry out biological, physical, edaphic survey Produce maps Publish and distribute maps	RFO,FRIM,MCFW,DF FRIM, NHBG FRIM, DF FRIM, DF	Surveys planned Biological, physical and edaphic surveys carried out Maps produced Maps published and distributed	By April, 1998 By December, 1998 By June, 1999 By September, 1999
14.Draw up proposals and implement studies in collaboration with other relevant organizations for joint studies in the areas of outstanding scientific interest	Identify areas of collaboration and partners Jointly draw up proposals that are multi-institutional and multi-disciplinary Implement scientific studies	FRIM, Donors, Research Institutions FRIM, Donors, Research Institutions FRIM, Donors, Research Institutions	Areas of collaboration and partners identified Proposals drawn up jointly Scientific studies implemented	On going    On going    On going

 

POLICY OBJECTIVE 8: Develop and disseminate technology packages to target groups for the management of trees and forests.
 

1.Prepare, update and distribute standard audio-visual aids	Identify the target groups’ needs, problems, concerns and aspirations Develop needs specific technological interventions	FRIM, DFO, NGOs    FRIM, DFO, RFO, MCFW, NGO	Needs, problems, concerns and aspirations identified Needs specific technological interventions developed	By April, 1998   By July, 1998 and on going
2.Enhance adoption rate of technological packages	Regularly monitor and evaluate adoption	DF, M&E, RFO, FRIM,	Evaluation report produced and circulated regularly and recommendations implemented	By February, 1998 and on going

 

POLICY OBJECTIVE 12: Accelerate and intensify efforts to manage forest plantations for the production of timber and industrial wood products and to provide the correct incentives for the development of primary and secondary forest industries with a view to achieving self-sufficiency and to generate revenue through the export of wood products.
 

STRATEGY	PLANNED ACTIVITIES	STAKE HOLDERS	EVALUATION CRITERIA	TIME PLAN
5.Promote establishment of timber processing training centers	Convene a workshop to highlight wood processing industries to utilize opportunities for developing timber and non-timber training centers	DFr, Wood Processing Industries, MEDI, TIAM, MIRDC, MCFW, FRIM, Lending Institutions	A workshop for the wood processing industry on utilizing opportunities for developing timber and non-timber training centers convened	By September, 1998

 

POLICY OBJECTIVE 16: Address the many interrelated causative factors involved in the management of forest resources and ensure that they are not fragmented, overlapping and ineffective.
 

1.Nurture, foster and sustain the joint development of management plans in the natural resource sector	Implement joint programs on:  (i) Bee keeping  (ii) Trout farming  (iii) Mushroom production  (iv) Plant identification  (v) Long-term training  (vi) Protection of catchment areas	Parks, Fisheries, Agriculture, FRIM, NHBG, MCFW, NRC, Mpwepwe, RFO, Water Board, VNRMCs	Programs jointly implemented	On going
STRATEGY	PLANNED ACTIVITIES	STAKE HOLDERS	EVALUATION CRITERIA	TIME PLAN
2.Promote collaboration in research and extension programs at national, regional and district levels.	Prepare regional and district research and extension programs Implement regional and district research and extension programs Prepare joint progress reports Monitor and evaluate regional and district research and extension programs	FRIM, DF, RFO, DFO, DAR, NRC, NGO FRIM, DF, RFO, DFO, DAR, NRC, NGO DF, DAR, FRIM, CAS, RFO, DFO, NRC DAR, FRIM, DF, CAS	Regional and district research and extension programs prepared National, regional and district research and extension programs under implementation Progress reports jointly prepared Evaluation reports prepared	By February, 1998       By April, 1998       Annually    Periodic and on going
4.Establish and support a joint working group involving Ministries responsible for Forestry, Agriculture and Environment, representatives of the estate sector and rural communities with a view to improve sectoral planning	Exchange relevant research and extension literature and packages on forestry with the estate sector	ARET, DAR, FRIM, ICRAF, TRF, RFO, DEA	Exchange of research and extension literature and packages initiated and maintained	On going

POLICY OBJECTIVE 17: Ensuring that men, women and the youth’s role in forest and tree resource utilization and management is promoted.
 

1.Support gender groups not only in forest-based subsistence and informal economies but as a key agency for innovative development of the rural forestry sector

Organize and implement training courses to gender groups

DF, RFO, DFO, MCFW, FRIM, NGO

Training courses for gender groups organized and implemented

On going

 

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