ARSC began 1998 by initiating the transition of all Public Lands Utilization Study (PLUS) data layers to the prototype EIS. All PLUS data and associated ArcView projects (for spatial data presentation) were reviewed according to the standards requested by Malawian agencies currently developing the prototype EIS. A beta version of the spatial dataset was delivered to Malawi and tested during an ArcView training conducted by two University of Arizona graduate students in March1998. Revisions recommended by participants in the training and other Malawian experts interested in EIS development were documented and should be incorporated in the final dataset scheduled for delivery during the next quarter.

The core of the data transition involved the creation of a dynamic operating environment for metadata, based on the theoretical design developed by the Department of Surveys in conjunction with Clark University. As depicted below, metadata forms and reports were developed in Microsoft Access and documentation concerning all PLUS data layers was added. Following the March ArcView training, the metadata structure was improved to make it more accessible to the end user.

The March ArcView training involved participants from four of the six MEMP agencies, UNIMA, and several other agencies directly interested in using the PLUS dataset. Theoretical and practical aspects of data presentation were addressed. Candidates for the Tucson-based participant training in GIS and Remote Sensing, tentatively scheduled for May 1998, were proposed.

ARSC has been working in conjunction with the Department of Surveys, the Land Resources Conservation Department, and Forestry to capture the spatial data necessary for analysis of erosion hazard in the Middle Shire. The primary sources of the data are hard copy Survey Sheets, LREP Agroclimate and Soils & Physiography maps, and digital Satellitbild land cover maps. In all but the latter it has been necessary to digitize these base materials before attempting to model erosion hazard. Data capture and Quality Control/Quality Assurance (QA/QC) procedures developed for PLUS are being applied to all prototype EIS efforts, however local capacity and some difficulties in communication have hindered efforts. In an attempt to consolidate the work completed to data, Surveys has requested that ARSC perform QA/QC on all data layers including those developed in Malawi. Metadata has been initiated for new EIS layers, but will not be completed until all PLUS metadata have been entered and reviewed.

All of Malawi is covered by 11 Landsat Thematic Images. The south-central region, including the Middle Shire, is captured by the four images covering territory physically north of Ngabu ADD. Using Landsat imagery nomenclature, these are named by satellite path/row as follows:

P168/R070 P167/R070
P168/R071 P167/R071

The raw imagery must undergo a series of preprocessing steps before it can be used in the development of products such as land cover maps. These steps (noted in the table below) have been completed for the 1984 images and the 1994 images are underway.

These steps will be completed by May 1998 in preparation for the participant training anticipated for that time. The participants will deliver the finished products along with any produced by them during the training to their respective agencies in Malawi.

PROGRAM TWO: Strengthen Environmental Training and Research

Some of the highlights of the activites conducted during the first quarter of 1998 include:

Supervision and coordination activities of the sediment data collection from the Rivi-rivi and Lisungwe Rivers and supervision of laboratory data analysis activities were made during this quarter. These activities belong to the large catchment research where methodologies for monitoring the impact of land use and vegetation cover changes on water yield and water quality are developed. The supervision of the field data collection and laboratory analysis analysis will be completed at the end of the rainy season.

Supervision and data collection activities concerning the small catchment research were also some of the ongoing activities of this quarter. Data collection from two MEMP catchment started at the onset of the rainy season in November and will continue until the end of May 1998.

A 5-day training course on Environmental Data Analysis and Interpretation has been conducted. The training was held at the Agricultural Policy Research Unit (APRU) of Bunda College of Agriculture from February 16 to 20, 1998.

An environmental science curriculum which consists of new courses and existing course has been developed for Bunda College of Agriculture. The curriculum has been reviewed and approvaed by the Dean and the Curriculum and Syllabus Committee.

All small grant award recipients have started the implementation phase of their research. A launching ceremony was held at the Malawi Polytechnic on March 27, 1998. Mr Burger, Mr K. Butler, Mr W. MacDonald (AID-Malawi), Mr. B. Rands (IRG consultant), and I attended the ceremony where award recipients made brief presentation of their research.

One of the four that I have been advising has completed his project. The other three had also made good progress in data collection and analysis

BUNDA

The environment needs assessment revealed that compared to Chancellor and the Polytechnic, the Bunda College of Agriculture had no environmental science curriculum in place. An environmental science curriculum that consist of new and existing courses has been developed for Bunda College of agriculture. The Dean and the Curriculum and Syllabus Committee have reviewd and approved the curriculum. Attached please find a copy of the environmental science curriculum developed for Bunda College of agriculture.

Now that the first stage of the curriculum development is completed, I am working on the preparation of the syllabi. The syllabi mainly consists of course contents and recommendation of text books for the newly proposed courses. When the syllabi preparation activities are completed, a final report on environmental science curriculum for Bunda College of agriculture will be submitted to the college.

SMALL GRANT RESEARCH PROGRAM

All small grant award recipients have received half of their budget and have been conducting research for about two to three months. The second half of the research budget will be released based on performance evaluation of the researcher progress. The UNIMA research staff including the UNIMA research coordinator, UNIMA Research and Publications Committee and I will review the preliminary results and will evaluate the progress made by each researcher.

The criteria selected for evaluating progress made by researchers in mainly based on a comparison between the current schedule of activities and schedule of activities proposed in the research proposal. For instance, if a researcher is behind schedule without any reasonable justification, it is possible to exclude him/her from the list of grant recipients and stop any further release of funds. On the other hand, technical and scientific advice will be given to all researchers who need some assistance. If the performance evaluation reveals that many researchers may need help in conducting their research, assisting UNIMA researchers could as well be a major task during the upcoming work plan.

Data analysis, interpretation, and reporting are major constraints that affect the overall quality of the data collected from MEMP catchments by staff working for MEMP participating agencies. Lack of understanding of data analysis techniques and interpretation of results are mainly responsible for delays in publishing results from the MEMP small catchment. To address this problem, a 5-day training course which consists of explanation of basic concepts on reporting was offered. This training was held at

APRU between February 20, 1998. Attached please find a brief report concerning the environmental data analysis and interpretation training.

The Spring Semester for Bunda College started on March 29, 1998. All four student projects are making steady progress. One of the undergraduate students whom I am advising has completed his project. The two other undergraduate students are now analyzing their data. Two of these students have participated in the MEMP activities and have collected data from Chilindamaji and Kamundi catchments. The graduate student’s research is also progressing satisfactorily. The graduate student has completed half of his field work and will make formal presentation of his research in May, 1998. All four students are expected to graduate in December 1998.

Task accomplished

SMALL CATCHMENT RESEARCH

As the rainy season is about to end, field data collection and laboratory data analysis activities will also end. Data from the small catchment will be used to test a methodology developed for monitoring and evaluation of the effectiveness of farmers management practices to soil erosion. The firs task was to review the data collected from the MEMP small catchments during 1994/95, 95/96, and 96/97 rainy seasons and evaluate whether the data is suitable for determining the impact of the burley tobacco liberalization policy on the environment. The second task was to develop an altenative methodology that simplifies the existing monitoring methodology by distinguishing the monitoring into research and monitoring components based on Slack’s recommendations. The third task was to test the newly developed methodology on two MEMP catchments namely Kamundi and Chilindamaji, and (4) the fourth task was to analyze and interpret the field and laboratory data and to test the validity of the methodology for application to other catchments.

1) Data obtained from the MEMP small catchment Monitoring Program has been reviewed and the findings have been presented as a report. The report consists of two parts and is now available in a draft form. Part One of the report deals with task one and Part Two deals with task two which is given in the following section.

2) The methodology for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of soil and water conservation practices in controlling soil erosion has been developed as part of the monitoring component. The research component of the alternative methodology focuses on the collection of accurate and reliable soil loss data from field plots. When adequate data is collected, the data will be used for calibrating and validating the SLEMSA model for the conditions in Malawi. The methodology has been developed and is presented as Part Two of the above-mentioned draft report.

3) The methodology has been tested on two MEMP catchments during the 1997/98 rainy season. The field testing of the methodology started in November and will continue until the end of May.

4) Analysis of field and laboratory data will start when the rainy season ends and when all the data becomes available. The analysis and interpretation task will probably be part

of the upcoming workplan.

Tasks one and two have been completed but tasks three and four are still ongoing. About 65 percent of this activity has four will be completed during the upcoming workplan

The large catchment monitoring research activity consists of several tasks that include:

(1) Compilation of historic streamflow, rainfall, and climatic data from selected large catchments including two catchment in the Middle Shire River, (2) analysis of remotely sensed data such as NDVI and Satellite images, and (3) establishment of suspended sediment sites and collection and laboratory analysis of suspended sediment samples from two rivers that drain the two largest catchments of the Middle Shire River namely the Rivi-rivi and Lisungwe, and (4) analysis, interpretation, and reporting.

1). Historical data from selected rivers were obtained from Water and Meteological Departments. Preliminary analysis of the historical data was made. Further analysis will be made in conjuction with remotely sensed data such as Normalized difference Vegetatation Index (INDVI) and Landst TM image analysis.

2) On April 24, 1998, I received copies of Landsat TM images of Lisungwe and Rivi-rivi catchment from Clark University Team. The images analyzed by Clark University Team show land cover changes between 1984 and 1994. Information obtained from these images will support the results obtained for the historical data. Analysis of the NDVI data from Rivi-rivi and Lisungwe Rivers has been made.

3) Suspended sediment data have been collected from the Lisungwe and Rivi-rivi rivers through out the 1997/98 rainy season. Water samples collected from these rivers were analyzed for suspended sediment concentrations by the Central Water Laboratory.

4) Data analysis, interpretation and reporting activities will start at the end of the rainy season. It appears that this task will take place during the upcoming work plan.

Task one, two, three have been completed. About 65% of this task has been completed. Task four which corresponds to 35% of the task will be completed as part of the upcoming work plan.

For more information about work done during this period, please see:

• February - May, 1998 Trip Report: Clark University
• The Clark University Component of the University of Arizona / Clark University Cooperative Agreement
• An Overview of the Malawi Environmental Monitoring Programme’s Small Catchment Monitoring Component – with Recommendations to Meet Malawi’s National Environmental Monitoring Requirements
• Policies for Natural Resource Management: Summary paper prepared by the NATURE Policy Advisor for the USAID Mission Strategic Review
• Discussion Points for the Integration of S02 Activities in the Shire River Basin
• Proposed Activities for IES Development in 1998-99