23 Permanent Monitoring Plots (PMPs) have been established in the co-management blocks, 14 in Kazembe and 9 in Tchete, to monitor the progress and impact of the restoration. The activity was led by the Center for Ecological Restoration (CER) Kenya team, with participation from ornithologists from Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST), an entomologist from Museums of Malawi, a botanist from Forest Research Institute of Malawi (FRIM), and support from Botanical Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) and MMCT. Soil samples were also collected.

Looking ahead, a similar exercise is planned for Phalombe in the new co-management blocks of Nyambalo and Bwanaisa, which have 4 and 5 sub-blocks respectively. Two plots will be set up in each sub-block, bringing the total PMPs there to 18.

From left to right: Dr. Andrew Gichira (CER Kenya), Raheela Ahmed (MMCT), Richard Swirah (WeForest), Triza Mungai (CER Kenya), Tamara Chirwa (MUST), Clement Chiwaya (Kazembe Forest Block Chair). In the back row, from left: Jonathan Jenkins (CER Kenya), Steven Mphamba (FRIM).