Malawi’s incredible wildlife is facing a number of threats, from deforestation and
biodiversity loss to human-wildlife conflict and the illegal trade in products such as ivory
and bushmeat.
Our research projects are designed to improve conservation knowledge and practice
and include issues such as biodiversity monitoring and wildlife management. This means
that as a volunteer you not only have the opportunity to spend time out in the field learning new
skills, but also contribute to research that makes a real difference as our work helps guide and evaluate ongoing conservation actions in Malawi.
The research projects cover a range of issues and vary based on location and time of year. Whether it be radio tracking large carnivores, assisting on
camera trap surveys or creating identification kits for elephants, your work will be vital to inform on best practices to protect Malawi's wildlife and their habitats.
Some example projects include:
- Biodiversity monitoring in Liwonde National Park: you’ll collect data that will
enable park management to take informed conservation action for predators such as lions, cheetahs and wild dogs
- Elephant Research: this work focuses on identifying the movement
corridors of Malawi’s largest transboundary elephant population, located in the north
of the country, with findings helping to inform cross-border cooperation, law
enforcement and mitigation of human-elephant conflict
- Conserving Malawi’s Vultures: this initiative pairs research with on-the-ground
conservation action to help fill knowledge gaps on the role Malawi plays in supporting
regional vulture movements in Southern and East Africa.
