By: Golden Kang'oma

Salima, August 23, Mana:  In a significant move to safeguard Malawi's unique aquatic biodiversity, a four-day workshop focusing on freshwater ecosystem types and ecological condition mapping has commenced in Salima district.

The event, held under the Spatial Biodiversity Assessment, Prioritization, and Planning (SBAPP) regional project, gathers experts from four Southern African countries, such as Malawi, South Africa, Namibia, and Mozambique.

Speaking during the official opening of the workshop on Wednesday, Director of Fisheries in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change, Dr. Hastings Zidana, said Lake Malawi stands as a global biodiversity hotspot.

He said, Lake Malawi is home to over 800 fish species and the workshop will help in finding means of protecting the species and putting the country on map.

He said: “Lake Malawi is not just a national or continental treasure; it’s a global one, so now our focus is now shifting from individual species to a holistic view of the entire ecosystem. This workshop is essential in helping us map out these ecosystems, identify biodiversity hotspots, and recognize areas that are under threat.”

Dr. Zidana emphasized the urgent need for a cooperative approach among neighboring countries that share the lake’s waters—Mozambique and Tanzania.

He said the region faces mounting threats from changing weather patterns, including cyclones and fluctuating water levels and underscored the importance of cross-border collaboration.

“Whatever happens in Tanzania’s uplands—whether it’s deforestation or erosion directly impacts Malawi’s side of the lake, so this shared responsibility necessitates joint scientific efforts to protect our shared water body.” he said.

SBAPP Project Steering Committee Chairperson and Director of Research and Outreach at Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST), Professor Alfred Maluwa, said the project is very important and  noted that while terrestrial ecosystem mapping has been conducted, the focus now shifts to aquatic systems.

“The workshop marks a critical step in our efforts to conserve biodiversity and plan sustainable management of our ecosystems. Experts from SunBio, representing the South African government, are here to train us in aquatic assessment, equipping us to manage our lake and water systems more effectively with the resources we have,” said Maluwa.

The SBAPP project, is being funded by the French government and seeks to address the critical challenges facing biodiversity, particularly in freshwater systems.

The workshop is seen as a vital opportunity for Malawi to enhance its capacity in protecting ecosystems and ensuring the sustainability of aquatic species in Lake Malawi, amidst growing environmental pressures.