Mount Mulanje Biosphere Reserve

UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, inscribed 2000, in Malawi. The Mount Mulanje Biosphere Reserve is in the south-west of Malawi, near the border with Mozambique. Mount Mulanje lies halfway between mountain chains and upland areas that extend from the Ethiopian highlands to South Africa. It has rich biodiversity with a high level of endemism. The Mulanje cedar (Widdringtonia whytei) found in the reserve is considered the national tree of Malawi and is highly valued for its use in silviculture and its contribution to socio-economic development. Its protection and sustainable use are priorities. There are three main ethnic groups and several minorities living in the area. The main land-use activities are agriculture and pastoralism, selective logging, the extraction of medicinal plants and other non-timber forest products, as well as ecotourism. The mountain also carries important cultural significance, as ancestral spirits are believed to reside there. These sites are used as shrines for traditional rites.