Lilongwe/Lingadzi Ecological Corridor System: Strategic Plan

The Lilongwe and Lingadzi river system continues to be the most important source of water for Lilongwe City communities. The rivers and their surrounding areas also offer significant potential benefits for the City of Lilongwe: ecological, recreational, cultural and economic. However, the river system currently faces significant threats such as sand mining, pollution, urban developments, urban agriculture and climate change, which hinder the city from reaping these potential benefits.

Another concern is the fragmentation of urban natural assets and green areas in the city; reducing this fragmentation is critical for improved resilience of Lilongwe City. River corridors are ideal for connecting various parts of a city, as well as provide the opportunity to unlock the benefits mentioned above. As such, the establishment of an ecological corridor system in Lilongwe City has been proposed.

The future of this ecological corridor as the “heart and soul” of Lilongwe City depends on the large-scale and collective effort of all key role players. This work will help conserve the great value of the city’s natural assets, and allow the people of Lilongwe to benefit from the array of ecosystem services this ecological corridor may provide. The aim of this document is therefore to provide a strategy for collective movement towards the establishment and implementation of an ecological corridor system for the Lilongwe City Council (LCC).