Ntchisi Mountain Forest Reserve (6672)
Malawi, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1e, A2, B1, B4
Year of last assessment: 2024
National site name: Ntchisi Mountain Forest Reserve
Central coordinates: Latitude: -13.3197, Longitude: 34.0435
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 700 to 1640
Area of KBA (km2): 96.52563
Protected area coverage (%): 87.80
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Ntchisi Mountain, one of several peaks in Dowa Hills is located 75 km north-north-east of Lilongwe and a short distance south of Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve. The reserve spans across the hills with elevations rising above 1600m. The forest is in one block and is composed of c.220 ha of Aningeria montane rainforest at 1450-1640m, with a smaller area (30 ha) of Newtonia mild-altitude rainforest extending down the south-eastern slopes and abundant strangling figs Ficus spp. The rest of the reserve contains some fine miombo woodland on the north-eastern gradient, down to an altitude of c. 700m.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, and Alliance for Zero Extinction sites). KBA was identified while compiling the CEPF Ecosystem Profile of the East Afromontane Hotspot. The site supports a critically endangered species, Allocnemis maccleeryi which triggers the KBA under criteria A1a, A1e, and B1. The site also contains an endangered ecosystem called Nkhotakota Lakeshore Catchment Rivers which triggers the KBA criteria A2.
Additional biodiversity: The Ntchisi Forest Reserve provides a habitat for wildlife, such as primates, small mammals, and insects. It is an Important Bird Area that contains over 180 bird species. It supports endemic species such as Damselflies Ntchisi Yellowwing, Blue-shouldered threadtail, and the Swinny's horseshoe bat. It is a principal water catchment area for both Ntchisi and Nkhotakota districts and is a source of important rivers such as Lifuliza, Dwazi, and Chafumbe. These rivers also contain several aquatic macroinvertebrates that play an important role as indicators of unpolluted water and good water quality, these include Mayflies (Baetidae) and Stoneflies (Perlidae). Some other macroinvertebrates found in the rivers of the reserve are Freshwater crabs, Damselflies, Diving Beetles, and Caddisflies. The reserve contains unique vegetation that is dominant with evergreen Montane, Brachystegia woodland, and riverine forest adjacent to the reserve's perennial streams. Two ecosystems within the reserve are threatened, the Nkhotakota Lakeshore Catchment Rivers found on the northeastern tip of the reserve are Endangered, and the Miombo woodlands in the rest of the reserve are vulnerable.
Manageability of the site: The reserve is co-managed by the Government of Malawi (Department of Forestry) and the surrounding communities. The Department of Forestry divided the land into eighteen blocks and signed co-management agreements.
Other site values: The reserve is a state-owned Forest Reserve situated on public land. The land and all forest resources within the forest reserve's boundaries are under the mandate of the Government of Malawi through the Department of Forestry. The surrounding communities however are allowed access to the forest resources for domestic and commercial purposes to support their livelihoods.
Delineation rationale: The Ntchisi Forest Reserve is a protected area and KBA delineation aligns with the boundaries designated in the World Database of Protected Areas (WDPA ID 33185).
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: The entirety of the reserve is located on Ntchisi mountain and it consists of habitats such as Montane forest, Miombo woodlands, several streams and rivers, rocky outcrops , and several other habitats.
Land use: The land is divided into eighteen blocks each co-managing the site with the Department of Forestry. The communities have access to forest products such as firewood and timber as well as non-timber forest products such as wild fruits, river water sources, and medicine. In addition to the resources, the communities together with the Department of Forestry manage the site through monitoring for prohibited activities such as commercial harvesting of trees, grazing livestock, and setting bushfires, reporting illegal activities occurring in the reserve, promoting regeneration etc.
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Rocky Areas(e.g., inland cliffs, mountain peaks) | 5 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 5 | Wetlands (inland) – Permanent rivers/streams/creeks (includes waterfalls) |
| Forest | 70 | Forest – Subtropical/tropical dry |
| Forest | 15 | Forest – Subtropical/tropical moist montane |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Rapid deforestation through illegal cutting of trees for commercial use.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing | |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/ntchisi-mountain-forest-reserve-iba-malawi
UNEP-WCMC (2024) Protected Area Profile for Ntchisi from the World Database on Protected Areas, December 2024.
Department of Forestry, United States Agency for International Development (2018) Ntchisi Forest Reserve Forest Management Plan 2018-2023
Contributors: Tiwonge I Mzumara-Gawa
Sally Chingaipe
Twalibu Tandwe
Patience Mafuta
Emmanuel Vellemu