The riverbanks of South Rukuru River in Rumphi District are severely degraded due to rampant deforestation, sustainable harvesting of non-timber forest products (NTFPs), and poor agricultural practices taking place along and in adjacent areas of the riverbanks. There is severe environmental degradation taking place along the riverbank catchments of South Rukuru River, which is more noticeable in areas of Mzokoto-Phwezi-Bale. The environmental problem is caused by uncontrolled deforestation, poor agricultural practices and unsustainable utilization of biological resources, including non-timber forest products (NTFPs). These causal agents of environmental degradation have led to massive soil erosion, river siltation, climate change and flash floods. The environmental problem is also exacerbated by poorly coordinated local governance institutions (e.g. VNRMCs, VDCs, ADCs, etc) of the area as they have inadequate capacity in networking, coordination, sharing of experiences and lessons learned which are pivotal for combating the present environmental problems (GEF SGP/ University of Mzuzu, 2016). It is thus, feared that if these intertwined environmental and social problems are not urgently addressed, the current problems will continue escalating to alarming rates such that any interventions to be implemented in near future to address the problems will be futile.

These anthropogenic pressures have resulted in loss of unique flora and fauna species, the dwindling population of the Globally Endangered Mpasa fish (IUCN, 2016), severe siltation of the river which is a major source of water for domestic use, fish farming, irrigation farming and harbour potential sites for future establishments of hydropower plants. It is feared that if these anthropogenic problems are not urgently addressed, the entire catchments of South Rukuru River will be more degraded than before and Endangered Mpasa fish, including unique flora and fauna species will completely disappear within a short period of time.

Objectives:
i. To restore indigenous riparian forests in the severely-degraded riverbank catchments of South Rukulu River;
ii. To strengthen the capacity and coordination of local governance institutions in areas of environmental protection, climate change mitigation and natural resource management;
iii. To reduce soil erosion and river siltation through introduction of climate-smart agriculture to farmers;
iv. To increase environmental education, communication and awareness among communities and local governance institutions; and
v. To promote potential and marketable agro-based income generating activities.

vi. To promote rehabilitation and restoration of the degraded catchments of the river,