About Us
Who We Are
The Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) Forum is a national network and umbrella body of Community Co-Management Associations in Malawi.
We represent local communities living around national parks, game reserves, forests, and fisheries, ensuring that their voices and rights are central to conservation and natural-resource governance.
We help communities engage in policy dialogue, strengthen co-management systems, and promote conservation that truly delivers benefits for both people and nature.
Governance Structure
Membership in the Forum starts at the community level:
Village Natural Resource Committees (VNRCs) operate under Group Village Headmen.
Zone Natural Resource Committees (ZNRCs) at the Traditional Authority level.
Executive Committee (EC) at the protected-area level.
Board of Trustees provides policy and fiduciary oversight.
Our Team
Malidadi Langa
Executive Director
Malidadi Langa is a retired economist and development planning specialist who now dedicates his time to community-focused causes on the edge of Kasungu National Park.
He is a staunch advocate and promoter of progressive rights-based conservation approaches that benefit both nature and people while respecting the human rights of rural communities near protected areas.
Matias Kachepa Elisa
Program Coordinator
Matias Kachepa Elisa is a retired Community Extension and Development Manager with vast experience in building a "Constituency for Conservation". As a Program Coordinator for the Forum, he facilitates awareness and promotes livelihood initiatives. He is also a Board Member for Linyangwa Lodge, using traditional knowledge to protect Kasungu National Park's buffer zone.
Gift Nhlane
Monitoring & Evaluation Officer
Gift Nhlane is an Economist specializing in banking and international development. He supports rural communities across Malawi in achieving sustainable livelihoods. He ensures natural resource use and conservation efforts are based on local rights, traditional knowledge, and cultural practices, leveraging his expertise in business development and value chain enhancement.
Tamala Chilombo
Finance & Administration Officer
Tamala Chilombo is a Certified Public Accountant with over 10 years of experience in financial management, auditing, and tax strategy. As the Finance and Administration Officer at the CBNRM Forum, she oversees budgeting, reporting, and grants management. Tamala holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and is a registered member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Malawi (ICAM).
Board of Trustees
|
Name
|
Position/Profession
|
Community Association
|
|---|---|---|
|
Patrick Pickford Jere
|
Nyika/Vwaza Association
|
|
|
Lundu Chapter Nkhuku
|
Paramount Chief Lundu
|
Lengwe Wildlife Association
|
|
Yobe Jolomu Nthondo
|
Senior Chief Nthondo
|
Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve Association (NAWIRA)
|
|
Hermes Malio Kanduku
|
Senior Chief Kanduku
|
Majete Wildlife Reserve Association (MWRA)
|
|
Francis Alex Njanje
|
Businessman
|
Mangochi-Salima Lake Park Association (MASALAPA
|
|
Benedicto Malunga
|
University Administrator
|
Upper-Shire Association for the Conservation of Liwonde National Park (USACOL)
|
|
Felix Phalakasa Lukwa
|
Senior Chief Lukwa
|
Our Partners
