Our Management Team

Words can’t save a species or a habitat, they can’t hold of extinction. Words don’t nurse new born chicks, or tree seedlings or newborn mammals, nor watch them grow up. Words alone aren’t nearly enough. That is why we at PAW are doing things like funding Mwabvi WR to protect and introduce endangered species as well as providing practical conservation education for communities; because we would rather do something about it, than just talk about it.

PAW Malawi has a strong Management Team in place with all the requisite skills, experience, knowledge and drive to oversee the project.

Kenneth Smith - Director: A former South African Lawyer who has run a successful Safari company, based in Lilongwe, since 1992.

Kenneth has been involved with PAW since its inception in 2000 and is the driving force behind the project. He has devoted considerable time and resources to Mwabvi and this coupled with his wealth of experience has enabled the project to move forward over the last 2 years.

Ken is supported by a strong team in Malawi including:-

· Fatima Bhayat - Project Coordinator

· Paul Dalgarno - Project Manager

Paw Malawi is also supported by PAW UK a registered charity based in England, which was set up for the purpose by Gaynor Asquith, who also runs a regeneration agency in the UK specialising in delivering social and economic regeneration with the suport of the community.

Our Management Plan

A detailed management plan covering all aspects of the conservation work currently being undertaken is maintained and updated monthly covering:

· Financial constraints.

· Anti poaching activities & policies.

· Maintenance of equipment.

· Maintenance of buildings and facilities.

· Follow ups regarding poaching court cases.

· Training of existing staff.

· Liaising with local politicians and communities.

· Liaising with Director of National Parks and senior staff at Lengwe NP on a monthly basis.

· Building contact with local schools by giving conservation talks, visits to the Wildlife Reserve and providing school books.

· Conservation work.

· Road building and fire breaks.

Funding

The ultimate goal is to secure the future of Mwabvi Wildlife Reserve via tourism revenue and to sustain as well as stimulate the local economy through improved natural resource management. However, before this can be achieved a lot of work will need to be undertaken and this will need to be financed via Sponsorship and Donations.

Detailed below is a breakdown of the funds that need to be raised in the short, medium and long term. The table below summarizes the current estimated costs for each period.

Period	Annual Costs	One off Costs	Total for the Period
Years 1 -2	£96K	£88.5K	£280.5K min
Year 2 – 5	£105K	£553K	£868K min
Year 5 - 15	£118K	Not yet available	£1.6M min

To ensure the future of Mwabvi for generations to come PAW is seeking funding for both short and long term projects.

In the short term, we need to cover the ongoing daily costs at Mwabvi these include anti-poaching patrols, bags of cement, hoes and vehicle maintenance.

Our biggest challenge in the medium term will be to raise the £0.5M required to fence the reserve.

In the long term, the final challenge will be to raise the funds required to cover the costs of reintroducing a number of game species.

It will only be possible to achieve our ultimate goal of a self sustaining reserve via tourism revenue on completion of the above.

Ongoing Potential

If the necessary funding can be secured, we are confident that Mwabvi will have a bright future. The reserve offers a pristine ecology with several beautiful scenic areas, amazing rock formations, an abundance of different vegetation, huge trees, a high number of bird species and an excellent potential for a variety of game species.

After resolving the major issues threatening the reserve, the focus will shift to marketing Mwabvi as a tourist destination and thus achieving our ultimate goal of a self sustaining reserve.

The introduction of Black Rhino, Sable, Suni, Nyala and Blue wildebeest will make this reserve a unique destination in Malawi since currently no other reserve can provide the opportunity to view all these species.

A camp site has already been developed and upgrading of the facilities to a tented camp and eventually to a lodge is planned, this will further enhance the reserves tourist potential.

Short Term Management Priorities (2008)

1. Fund Business Running Cost to operate the whole operation in Malawi

2. Building Roads, currently for use as fire-breaks but also for future park management.

3. Clearing of perimeter (future fence-line) in conjunction with National Parks and local community

4. Communication equipment (2 way radio system) and base set

5. Supply water points (bore-holes). Two additional water points plus water hole at Migudu

6. Control Access through the reserve and provide more effective patrols. Build bridge at Kanyimbi plus new gate house.

7. New Land Rover to utilize in all terrain and seasons.

8. Repair of Existing Vehicles at Mwabvi

9. Completion of construction work at Chipembere

10. Development & Research of Conservation Website

11. Creation of Quarterly Newsletter

12. On an ongoing basis liaise with PAW UK Trust regarding funding issues, funding needs and development of Volunteer Program and Educational Training Centre.

Medium Term Management Priorities 2 to 5 Years (2010)

1. Fencing + Electrification of Boundary of Mwabvi WR: £500,000

2. Water holes / drinking holes for game : £5,000

3. Establishing an ecological monitoring program: £6,000

4. Implement a cooperation strategy with neighboring villages: £15,000

5. Control of exotic vegetation that poses a threat: £2,000

6. Developing & Implementing the Volunteer Program in conjunction with UK Trust: £10,000

7. Developing & Implementing the Education Centre in conjunction with UK Trust: £15,000

Long Term Management Priorities 5 to 15 Years (2014)

1. Bush clearing project

2. Boma construction for Game introduction

3. Introduction of rare game species

4. Introduction of general game species

5. Implementation of a controlled burning program

6. Potential incorporation of forest reserve

7. Introduction of predators

8. Implementing Utilization Potential

9. Developing future tourist facilities