Publication Type: Abstract
Abstract: FOREST TREE AND FERN SPECIES AS INDICATORS OF AN UNNATURAL FIRE EVENT IN MULANJE MOUNTAIN FOREST RESERVE, MALAWI


JAMESTONE SMION KAMWENDO
National Herbarium and Botanic Gardens of Malawi (NHBGM)
P.O. Box 528
Zomba
Malawi
E-mail: jkamwendo3@yahoo.co.uk


STUDENT PRESENTATION


ABSTRACT

Afromontane forests in Mulanje Mountain in Malawi are typically surrounded by fire prone Widdringtonia whytei (Mulanje cedar). Although the impact of fire on Mulanje cedar has been extensively studied, little is known about the impact of fire on adjacent forest. Severe fire swept through a mountain forest in 1996 and 2004. Studies have shown that fires have changed a large proportion of Hyphaene palm trees in the margin from single stemmed to multi-stemmed trees and reduced the number of Widdringtonia whytei in the margin by 68%. Using these species as indicators, we argue that similar fires will reduce the structure and diversity of mountain forests as a whole. The 1996 fire was fuelled by abnormally high fuel loads associated with surrounding pine plantations. Further, the large areas of the mountain are afforested and that global climate change is likely to lead to an increase in the conditions favouring intense fires. We therefore, consider effective management of Afromontane mountain forests essential.