Degradation of natural resources in Mzokoto-Phwezi is highly influenced by firewood dependency, poverty, charcoal, harmful bush fires and tobacco growing as the major causes to loss of biodiversity in the area. Almost 85% of the people in Mzokoto-Phwezi sorely depend on agriculture as an alternative source of income. This has puts more pressure on the upper land of Mzokoto hills and natural forest resources than in many parts of Rumphi district. The population grows at 2.9% per year and this, combined with rural-to-rural migration from densely to sparsely populated areas, means farmers often have no way to tackle their food insecurity and expand their operations except to cut woodland on customary land or to encroach upon the forest reserves as a means of looking for fertile land. This has threatened stock of biological diversity, and reduces the actual and potential forest goods and services on which its people can draw for social and economic development to reduce poverty

Mzokoto-

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Phwezi in traditional authority Mwankhunikila natural resources forms a principal source of social well-being for tangible economic development. These resources are under constant stress from unprecedented human destructive activities, industrial and other developmental activities which if not curbed might will generate irreversible and heavy loss outcomes in the long-term.

Primary Objectives
? To reduce poverty through management and protection of existing biodiversity resources so that they can effectively contribute to the economy of those poor households in Mzokoto.

Specific objectives
? To enhance production of crop and animal biodiversity through promotion of sound environment management to achieve sustainable economic livelihoods
? To mainstream biodiversity conservation and sustainable use into production of landscapes/lakescape through community actions

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