Forest Changes Over Time

Forest Changes Over Time

Bunda Forest Reserve is suited within the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural resources (LUANAR), Bunda campus, with more than five communities surrounding the forest. The forest has three subdivisions, with the largest covering over 426 Ha. It is dominated by Miombo woodlands with few Eucalyptus and Gmelina species. Three mountains surround the reserve.

Crowddroners Tadala Makuluni and Esther Tamandani Biliyati chose to map the Bunda Forest to showcase the change over time. Notice the considerable amount of trees without leaves. Zoom in, and you can see these trees in more detail. The university managed large areas of this forest and cleared some sections to create new buildings and housing for students.

Check out the map in DroneDeploy‍

The image comparison below shows the difference between the forest in summer and fall, with the former taken with a satellite many years ago and the latter mapped with a drone by Crowddroners Tadala and Esther.

Drone data at the same place in different seasons or years allows us to get insights and, with those insights, take action to preserve and protect nature.

Drone operator

Esther Tamandani Biliyati

Esther is a practical oriented student, citizen and team player with budding proficiencies in ArcMap, Surfer, ArcGIS,QGIS, AutoCAD, civil 3D. Open to paid and non-paid internships. She has volunteered in community-driven research on organic farming, clean energy and biochar production. When she is not doing engineering, she volunteers and advocates for mental health and women empowerment where she's ever worked with the Malawi Prisons, SAT just to mention a few. She is passion driven and strongly believes in her capabilities coupled with a good team.