Mulanje cedar (Widdringtonia whytei) seedlings

The Mulanje cedar occurs naturally only on Mulanje mountain in Malawi. It was declared as Malawi’s national tree in 1984. There are four species of the genus Widdringtonia, all found in Southern Africa. The Mulanje cedar is a high value timber tree. It is durable, termite-proof and used for construction and wood carving. It also represents an important source of income for local communities, but it is currently being cut down at an unsustainable rate. There are several conservation efforts surrounding this tree. One will work to restore the species to its mountainous home with the support of local communities, and help them generate alternative sustainable income sources.