Restorations

History & Background

The Lilongwe Nature Sanctuary

Malawi’s rich biodiversity—spanning forests, wetlands, and wildlife—is under growing pressure from deforestation, unsustainable land use, and population growth. Even protected areas face threats from encroachment and illegal offtake of rare species.

At the Lilongwe Nature Sanctuary, we believe environmental education is the key to reversing these trends. By fostering awareness, skills, and commitment, we empower Malawians—especially the youth, who make up 40% of the population—to become future stewards of nature. Connecting people with the environment today ensures a healthier, more sustainable tomorrow.

Map of Lilongwe Nature Sanctuary, showing zones where restorations will be done.

In March 2022, DEVECON Limited signed a 20-year Concession Agreement with the Department of National Parks & Wildlife (DNPW) to restore Zones A & C of the Lilongwe Nature Sanctuary, covering 85 hectares. The goal is to elevate the Sanctuary to standards that support environmental education, recreation, and tourism, while fulfilling its primary mission: raising awareness of wildlife and biodiversity conservation among youth and the wider public.

To support this vision, DEVECON Limited received a grant of approximately €40,000 from Stichting De Boomgaard. The funding enabled rehabilitation of the Auditorium (interior and exterior), the library, construction of a new ablution block, and landscaping around the Auditorium. These improvements have significantly enhanced the image and functionality of the Sanctuary, positioning it as a hub for education, recreation, and conservation.

Restoration Activities

Restoration of the Lilongwe Environmental Education Center

DEVECON Limited is leading efforts to restore and revitalize the Lilongwe Nature Sanctuary, ensuring it serves as a hub for environmental education, recreation, and biodiversity awareness.

Key activities include:

Management & Zonation Plan

Developing a comprehensive plan that maps current and planned developments, biomes, and wildlife inventories (flora and fauna) across the Sanctuary.

Learning & Knowledge Products

Creating educational materials such as banners for the auditorium, nature trails, and bird-watching towers; re-mounting wildlife artefacts; and producing maps, pamphlets, and brochures showcasing Malawi’s biodiversity and cultural diversity.

Nature Trail Rehabilitation

Upgrading trails to prevent erosion, developing picnic sites, and enhancing information displays at key vantage points to enrich visitor experiences, including bird-watching and biodiversity education.

Rehabilitation & Construction of Picnic Sites

Six picnic sites across the Lilongwe Nature Sanctuary are planned for rehabilitation and reconstruction. These sites will be thoughtfully developed to provide visitors with comfortable spaces to relax, enjoy the scenery, and connect with nature. Beyond offering rest areas, the picnic sites will enhance the visitor experience by creating opportunities to appreciate the Sanctuary’s broad range of attractions—from birdwatching and wildlife observation to exploring diverse vegetation and riverfront views. They will serve as welcoming hubs where families, students, and tourists can pause, reflect, and immerse themselves in the Sanctuary’s unique blend of education, recreation, and conservation.

Bird-Watching Towers

Constructing observation stands at strategic points such as riverfronts to provide visitors with opportunities to view the Sanctuary’s diverse birdlife.

Binoculars for Students & Visitors

Procuring binoculars for student use and tourist hire, enabling closer observation of the more than 100 bird species recorded in Lilongwe District.

Infra-Red Night & Day Vision Cameras

Installing cameras at strategic sites to capture the behavior of wildlife such as hyenas, duikers, and porcupines. Footage will be displayed in the auditorium, offering a unique educational experience for both youth and adults.

OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT

The primary objective is to restore the Sanctuary’s awareness infrastructure and tools and contribute to fulfillment of its primary objective of creating awareness about wildlife and biodiversity conservation to the youth and the public. DEVECON Limited will rehabilitate the auditorium in Zone A of the Sanctuary, the indoor displays, nature trails (in Zones A&C), library, establish bird-watching platforms, etc. to make the Sanctuary more appealing to both the youth and adults.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

It is expected that the restoration of the Lilongwe Nature Sanctuary will result into:

  1. Increased number of the youth and the public to the Sanctuary to learn about the country’s rich biodiversity and cultures.
  2. Fulfilment of the Sanctuary’s primary objective of creating awareness about wildlife and biodiversity conservation to the youth and the public.
  3. A Malawi population that is aware of, and concerned about the environmental and its associated problems, and which has the knowledge, skills, attitudes, motivation, and commitment to work individually and collectively towards finding solutions to the environmental and biodiversity degradation problems in the country.

The outlook in the next 5-10 years is to make the Lilongwe Nature Sanctuary a hub of knowledge acquisition by the youth on biodiversity conservation, and a melting pot of cultures, entertainment, cuisine, and outdoor recreation.

TARGET AUDIENCE

The youth, adults and tourists visiting Lilongwe City. Overall, an integrated package of the auditorium, walking trails, picnic sites, children’s playground, and deeply captivating traditional dances during weekends will provide excellent and friendly customer services to support an ambiance of learning, energetic outdoor recreation and fun.

FINANCING MODEL FOR THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENTS

DEVECON Limited uses a combination of philanthropic fundraising (this proposal) for the rehabilitation of the environmental education facilities, including procurement of educational equipment, interpretation services, and upgrading of the nature trails. For the daily operations, DEVECON Limited and the Department of National Parks & Wildlife will use their own resources.

SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY

Our vision in upgrading the Lilongwe Nature Sanctuary is to establish a presence as a successful environmental education center, catering to all tiers of society in the Lilongwe city and beyond. To maintain the infrastructure and equipment to be procured under this grant, if provided, the following will contribute to this endeavour:

  • Selling of maps to visitors to the Sanctuary
  • Levying fees on usage of the nature trails
  • Hiring of binoculars for birdwatching
  • Levying fees for watching traditional dances to be convened weekly over week ends
  • Levying fees for usage of the auditorium for small workshops (max 30 people at a time)
  • Levying fees on merchandize, such as curios, T-shirts, coffee, etc. which will be promoted through private entrepreneurship engagements.

Donate toward the Restoration of the Lilongwe Nature Sanctuary