Flora Mphembuzgo Harawa

viphya  plantations commonly known as Chikangawa  forest was once a remarkable site full of breathtaking trees that covered a mass land.  Beautiful pine trees Viphya was first set up and planted by the British and then maintained by the life-president at the time, Dr Hastings Banda - Malawi’s first President after independence from the British. Pine was planted to produce paper pulp as well as some Eucalypts, but the paper pulp project was abandoned after there were serious environmental concerns. The pine was grown for timber instead. Much of the pine is over-mature and has now been largely harvested. There are only a few key commercial players in the whole area. Viphya was one of the largest man-made forests in Southern Africa and has a considerable number of indigenous and foreign species planted in it. There are many Eucalypts planted here and across Malawi. It’s an excellent source of timber and fuel in a country where the large majority of the population rely on charcoal and fire