SDI promotes participatory conservation and manangement of soil, water , forests, biodiversity by engaging community in co-manangement and altenative livelihoods. Alternative livehoods includes both natural resource based enterprises and non -natural resources based such as beekeeping, supply of water, tourism and savings and loan associations. SDI engages communities in advocacy such as ensuring meaningful participation of women, youth and people with disabilities.
Soche Landcare Extension Project : SDI was funded by Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme to engage communities surrounding the Soche hill to re‐establish a forest on the bare Soche Hill in Blantyre. SDI built the capacity of communities in tree propagation, forest based enterprises, soil and water conservation, land use and climate change. The communities planted 46000 trees covering about 16.5 hectares of bare land. SDI also helped communities to access water for drinking, domestic and agricultural use. About 2500 households are benefiting from the project.
Misuku Indigenous Forest Project - Misuku environment and forest management is an initiative that covers interventions in participatory forest governance, forest management, Biodiversity and Economic Empowerment in TA Mwenemisuku, Chitipa. IT is being implemented in partnership with Misuku Beekeepers Association (MBKA). The programmes aims at increasing participation of Misuku residents in the management and preservation of Misuku hills forest. The initiative has ever received funding from Conservational International, UNDP and Tilitonse fund to facilititate its initiatives.
Misuku Hills Art Challenge (MiHAC) - The Misuku Hills Art Challenge (MiHAC) was a national competition that brought together 12 top artists, photographers and film makers in Malawi to showcase the beauty and ecological, cultural, aesthetical and economic value of Misuku Hills Forest Reserves. A smaller art competition was also conducted for school children in schools surrounding Misuku Hills. The overall goal of the project was to ensure that Misuku Hills Forest Reserve is well conserved and also promote tourism and culture for people in Misuku Hills. The project engaged the general public in Malawi through the media. The project was funded by the Critical Ecosystem partnership fund (CEPF).A National Exhibition was conducted in Lilongwe where paintings, sculptures, photographs and short films on Misuku Hills KBA were exhibited. The exhibition brought together government departments, NGOs, Companies, Development Partners and general public. Live images and sounds of birds in Misuku Hills were streamed and displayed, opening up views of Misuku Hills never before seen by the public. The exhibition also displayed school children art work. The project has developed communication materials that showcase the beauty and ecological, cultural, aesthetical and economic value of Misuku Hills Forest Reserves. These communication materials are now being used to generate interest and awareness in species/ecosystem conservation in Misuku Hills and also showcase the culture of the people in Misuku Hills, at local, national and international level. The communication materials include; Three (3) short films/documentaries, 16 pieces of fine Art, 3 pieces of sculpture, over 68 photos , 1000 brochures, 10 children drawings, website for promoting Misuku hills KBA, Facebook and Twitter. This materials will continue to be used to generate awareness and interest about Misuku Hills KBA in the coming years. The MIHAC project reached to over 6,000,000 people through Television, Radio, Newspapers, Facebook, Tweeter, Art Exhibition, Brochures and Website