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Abstract
This paper uses primary and secondary data sources to discuss changes in the management of the Lake Chilwa floodplain, Malawi, a wetland that is an important source of livelihood for over a million people who subsist on agriculture, fishing and birds. These common pool resources are under pressure, largely due to the economic value of the wetland and weaknesses in management. Colonial development split up this complex ecosystem into departmental districts and sections, making it hard to manage. Although the area is a Ramsar site, changes in economic interests combined with larger-scale economic developments have negatively affected the status of these resources, putting pressure on them and causing conflicts. The paper addresses the questions of entitlement to the use of interrelated common pool resources and power relations among local leaders, local people and immigrants to the area.
This special issue was produced with the support of the European Union's Sixth Framework programme through the Cross-Sectoral Commons Governance in Southern Africa Project No. 043982. This work does not reflect the Commission's views and in no way anticipates its future policy in this area.
Notes
1Pastures are here excluded because the cattle population has decreased in the past 30 years (Peters, Citation2004).
2A dambo is a shallow wetland with river-like branches found in high rainfall areas of central, southern and eastern Africa.