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Partners: Washington State University, Total LandCare , Cooperation
for the Development of Emerging Countries, Business Consult Africa,
AgriCane Malawi, the Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi,
and the Nkhotakota District Assembly
USAID Contribution: $ 2.07 Million
The Chia Lagoon Watershed is endowed
with vast natural resources vital to the livelihoods of its 55,000
human inhabitants. Over the past 20 years, the watershed has experienced
escalating rates of environmental degradation due mainly to the
following factors: deforestation, soil erosion, siltation in rivers
and lakes, harmful bush fires, declining fish populations in the
lakes, rivers and lagoons from over fishing, and poaching.
The aim of the project is to improve the livelihoods
of rural communities within the Chia Lagoon Watershed through an
integrated community-based approach that involves sustained economic
use of the watershed’s natural resources of land, water, flora
and fauna. This will be achieved through improved natural resource
management, sustainable agricultural practices, enterprise development,
monitoring ecosystem change, and improved health.
The adoption of a truly integrated approach,
which involves collaboration with other institutions, NGOs, private
sector businesses and donor-funded projects is designed to enhance,
expand and maximize targeted results and impacts on rural livelihoods
in the Chia Lagoon Watershed. |
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