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Located in northern Malawi, the Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve, on the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to a wide variety of animals, as well as to the Ngoni and Tumbuka peoples who, over many years, have developed deep connections to the land, as well as extensive knowledge of local flora and fauna. 

To ensure community’s knowledge is incorporated into the management and conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems in Malawi, for instance in places such as the Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve, the country adopted an approach of working with diverse knowledge systems in their National Ecosystem Assessment (NEA). 

NEA examines the status and trends of biodiversity and ecosystems in a country, as well as their interlinkages with people while exploring effective interventions and responses to counteract biodiversity loss. UNESCO works closely with the NEA Initiative at UNEP-WCMC and country assessment teams around the world to support the engagement of Indigenous Peoples and local communities and the inclusion of Indigenous and local knowledge to ensure assessments are based on the best available evidence.

Initiated in 2020 and implemented through 2026, Malawi NEA is led by Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Environmental Affairs Department with the technical support of the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Network (), a consortium of partners, including UNDP, UNEP-WCMC and UNESCO. 

During the 2021-2022 scoping stage, the NEA team worked with over 200 community knowledge-holders across the country to explore the interconnections between biodiversity and culture. This collaboration aims to blend both ecological and cultural values as well as scientific knowledge with traditional knowledge into the NEA, promoting a holistic approach to biodiversity conservation.

In 2024, the Malawi NEA team focused on addressing gaps in Indigenous and local knowledge on wetland ecosystems by conducting on-the-ground research. 

In Kazuni, data collection focused on the Ngoni people, with a walking workshop held around Lake Kazuni in Vwaza Marsh. The community, though living outside the Reserve, actively supports its conservation and retains ownership, as it was once their ancestral land. They are consulted in management decisions and receive 25% of the Reserve's revenues, which support local services and livelihoods. Communities can also access renewable resources within 5km of the Reserve, including fishing and plant harvesting, through issued permits. However, concerns were raised about future access due to expected change in Reserve management.

In Zolokere, data collection engaged the Tumbuka community, with walking workshops held at traditional chiefs’ graveyards and the Vwaza Marsh. Like the Ngoni, the Tumbuka people share a deep sense of ownership over the Reserve and similar resource access rights. However, they rely more on marsh fishing.

Both the Ngoni and Tumbuka communities follow traditional leadership under chiefs. For the Tumbuka, a historic chiefs’ graveyard within the protected area has served as a spiritual site for ancestral rituals since at least from the 17^th century. However, since resettlement in the 1970s, the community has faced challenges in burying chiefs there, causing dissatisfaction as the burial site is integral to their ancestral and spiritual connections.

The Tumbuka people have long demonstrated custodianship of natural resources in Vwaza Marsh. In 1955, during the pre-independence period, they created a hunting-controlled area to protect wildlife like elephants and lions. This effort laid the foundation for the current protected area. However, cultural values are not yet fully integrated into the Reserve's co-management.

The NEA team identified a strong link between ancestral chief graveyards, conservation, livelihoods, and eco-cultural tourism potential. Allowing the Tumbuka community to continue burying chiefs in the traditional chiefs’ graveyard, for example, could strengthen biocultural diversity and conservation. Additionally, promoting annual community rituals could attract eco-cultural tourism, blending cultural preservation with biodiversity efforts.

The assessment team recommended a shift toward a more participatory, culturally sensitive approach in managing the Reserve. Embracing cultural diversity in biodiversity conservation could foster more resilient and equitable efforts. Strengthening community rights and building partnerships based on trust and respect are key steps forward.

The findings from the Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve will be compiled, synthesized and incorporated into the final Malawi National Ecosystem Assessment report, expected to be completed by the end of 2025. The resulting policy recommendations will aim to create a resilient, equitable, and inclusive model of biodiversity conservation that leverages the intrinsic connection between culture and nature.

The Malawi National Ecosystem Assessment (NEA) is implemented by Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources in collaboration with the Environmental Affairs Department. 

The NEA Initiative at UNEP-WCMC is part of the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Network (t), working in partnership with UNDP and UNESCO. 

Malawi NEA is financially supported by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the Federal Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection of the Federal Republic of Germany and SwedBio at Stockholm Resilience Centre.