FORESTRY RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF MALAWI (FRIM)

BACKGROUND

FRIM BACKGROUND

The Forestry Research Institute of Malawi (FRIM) situated in Zomba is one of the operational sections of the Department of Forestry within the Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries and Environmental Affairs. It is the center for most of the forestry research activities in the country. The institute was established as a Silvicultural Research Station in Dedza in 1957 under the then, Agricultural Research Council of Central Africa. Malawi is one of the few countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region that has an organised forestry research institution. As a developing country, Malawi is faced with a great challenge for acquiring factual information on which to base sustainable forestry management decisions for improved and equitable livelihoods of the Malawian society. Hence, instead of an ad-hoc type of research that is conducted without proper planning, forestry research is guided by the existing policy and is demand-driven.

FRIM’s mandate has evolved over the years from conducting research mainly on plantation forests to providing information and improved germplasm and to carrying out stakeholder-oriented research on the sustainable management, utilisation and conservation of trees and forests in Malawi.

We have drawn up this 5-year research program and strategy for the period 2002-2007, following the strategic planning process of the Forestry Department under the guiding principles of the National Forestry Policy and National Forestry Plan.