Appendix 4: Environmental Issues and Strategies

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				.	Appendix 4: Environmental Issue, Focal Points of Intervention and Strategies Focal Point of Intervention Strategies  Environmental Issue: Soil Erosion Cultivation on marginal land steep slopes river banks Protection of Steep Slopes and River Banks  Resettlement of People from Marginal Lands  Rehabilitation of vacated marginal lands  Promotion of Agro-forestry  Construction of Permanent Physical Conservation structures Mono-culture, Non-contour row cropping Crop Rotation  Contour Planting of all crops  Promote Mixed and Inter-cropping by smallholder farmers Over-grazing De-stocking  Stall feeding  Improvement of Communal pastures  expand communal grazing land  keep improved breeds  Promotion of small ruminants Infrastructure Development Minimal Tree. Destruction when constructing roads  Appropriate allocation of settlementsites  Empower Chiefs to regulate tree felling in settlement areas  Environmental Issue: Deforestation Agricultural Expansion Improve land productivity  Introduce and promote alternative high value crops  Amend legislation on leased land for agricultural use  Diversify Economic Base Uncontrolled Bush fires Create awareness on the negative effect of bushfires Fuelwood Extraction Plant multipurpose trees around homestead  Establish individual woodlots  Establish Village woodlots  Improve management of forest resources on customary land  Promote use of fuelwood saving stoves  Diversify sources of energy  Reduce tariffs on electricity and paraffin  Accelerate rural electrification programme  Stop use of indigenous fuelwood in industries  Promote use of softwood for fuel and charcoal  Establish demand driven woodlots  Environmental Issue: Deforestation Inadequate management of Public and Private Forests and Encroachment Improve management skills  Promote participatory management of forests and game Reserves  Create awareness on importance of forest/game reserves  Improve management of private forests Infrastructure Development (See 4~2.4 on Soil Erosion)  Environmental Issue: Degradation of Surface and Ground Water Waste Production and disposal · Raise environmental awareness and legislate appropriate laws governing waste production and disposal  Reduce contamination of water arising from transportation and storage of waste  Reduce contamination of water due to improper disposal of industrial waste Human and Municipal Waste Disposal Minimize waste at source  Improve waste collection and transportation of municipal wastes  Improve conveyance and disposal of wastes Agrochemical Runoff Minimize use and run off of agro-chemicals  Proper handling of agro-chemicals  Environmental Issue: Degradation of Surface and Ground Water Sedimentation / Siltation · See paragraphs 4.2 and 4.3 on soil erosion and deforestation Oil spillage Minimize oil spillage by vessels and tankers  Halt water contamination by oil from garages  Arrest depletion of Malawi's water resources Depletion of Surface and Groundwater Resources    Environmental Issue: Depletion of Fish Stock Destruction of Breeding Grounds Reduce sediment load in both river and lake water  Combat water pollution  Improve information on fish species, fish stocks and regeneration capacities  Halt spreading of non-indigenous fish and weeds  Increase local knowledge on fish breeding and biology in general Over fishing Control and monitor number of current fishermen and those entering the fishing industry  Halt use of non-sustainable fishing technology  Enforce 'off-season' regulation  Promote fish farming technology  Environmental Issue: Depletion of Fish Stock Obstruction of fish migration in rivers Reduce sediment load in rivers and halt use of non-sustainable fishing practices  Environmental Issue: Threat to Biodiversity High Population Growth This is addressed in paragraph 4.9 Habitat Loss Control of agricultural expansion  Halt Encroachment into protected areas  Destruction of important, fragile but unprotected ecosystems  Stop bush fires  Promote Economy Diversification  Address low agricultural productivity  Prevent loss of land races  Empower local leaders in biodiversity conservation Policy Failures Diversification of the economy (refer to section 4.3.1.4)  Improve agricultural productivity refer to section 4.3.1  Reduce loss of land races  Involve local leaders in biodiversity conservation  Environmental Issue: Threat to Biodiversity Illegal Exploitation of Forestry and Wildlife Resources Eliminate poaching  Legalize access to protected areas Loss of Freshwater Biodiversity Actions to address this problem are covered in paragraph 4.5  Environmental Issue: Human habitat degradation Planning and Provision of Housing and Basic Services Promote low cost housing scheme in both urban and rural areas  Speed up allocation of plots for both traditional housing areas and medium to low density areas  Review development charges to create incentive framework for plot development and provide basic services to facilitate speedy plot development  Review ground and property rents Water Supply Improved provision of water supply  This is addressed in section 4.4.2 Waste Disposal    Environmental Issue: High Population Growth Fertility Rate Promote intensive female education  Introduce sex education and family planning subjects into the regular curriculum at all levels of education  Increase the general literacy rates  Empower women in decision-making  Promote population/family planning programmes  Control unplanned, unwanted pregnancies Immigration and Migration Control of immigration  Create rural off-farm employment opportunities  Environmental Issue: Air Pollution Gas Emissions from the transport sector Reduce gas emissions from the transport sector Emission of Pollutants and Particulate matter from industries and mines Improve ambient air quality in industrial establishments  Improve air quality in the work environment Bush fires   Air quality pollution Discourage deliberate bushfires  Control air quality pollution  Environmental Issue: Environmental Education and Public Information Environmental Information Centres Establishment of environmental information centres Environmental Education Enhancing environmental subjects in the regular curriculum  Disseminate public information and raise awareness on the environment

Contents | Foreword | Acknowledgments  Chapters:  | One | Two | Three | Four | Five | Six | Seven Lists: | Figures | Maps | Tables | Appendices