Minister of Tourism Simon Itaye has called for increased investment in community-led conservation, saying local communities must be at the centre of efforts to tackle biodiversity loss, climate change and rural poverty.

Itaye made the remarks in Lilongwe on Thursday during the launch of the Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) Forum, which seeks to strengthen community participation in the management and conservation of natural resources.

“If we are serious about winning the battle against biodiversity loss, climate change and rural poverty, we must invest at the grassroots level, where the point of impact is,” said Itaye.

He called on development partners, government agencies, international NGOs and the private sector to build strategic partnerships with the CBNRM Forum and its member co-management associations.

Itaye urged stakeholders to move away from top-down approaches, saying they can increase project delivery costs and weaken local institutions.

“Let us move away from top-down approaches that increase project delivery costs. Instead, let us invest in local institutions, build local capacity and ensure adequate resources flow directly to communities and the point of impact,” he said.

He also cautioned against using limited community capacity as a reason to sideline local institutions, saying conservation investments should reach communities directly.

Itaye said collaborative management of natural resources would also help drive Malawi’s tourism industry, which is largely nature-based.

CBNRM Forum Board Chairperson Dr. Okoma Atani Malunga said the organisation had engaged senior traditional leaders to spearhead conservation efforts in their communities.

Malunga observed that traditional leaders were well placed to mobilise communities and provide leadership in protecting natural resources.

Lucy Pelera, Chairperson of the Mangochi-Salima Lake Park Association (MASALAPA), said the forum would give communities a stronger platform and mandate to participate in environmental conservation.

She said greater community involvement would ensure conservation initiatives reflected the needs and realities of people living alongside natural resources.

Rodgers Lubilo of the Community Leaders’ Network of Southern Africa said the CBNRM Forum could serve as a catalyst for advancing the community-based natural resource management agenda.

He also called for a shift from top-down approaches towards models that recognise communities as key partners in conservation. The forum brought together communities, traditional leaders, government institutions, development partners and private-sector players to strengthen collaboration in managing Malawi’s natural resources.