Sacred Mount Mulanje Faces Mining Threat After UNESCO Recognition

Traditional chiefs and environmental groups are mobilizing against a controversial mining proposal threatening Malawi’s Mount Mulanje, just months after the sacred mountain earned UNESCO World Heritage Site status in June. The proposed project would target the mountain’s high-altitude plateau, sparking fears about irreversible damage to one of Africa’s most biodiverse ecosystems.

Mount Mulanje stands as a towering 3,002-meter inselberg in southern Malawi, supporting over 70 endemic species including the critically endangered Mulanje cedar—the country’s national tree. Nine rivers flow from its slopes, providing freshwater to more than one million people in surrounding communities who also depend on the mountain for firewood, food, storm protection, and tourism income. Beyond its ecological value, Mount Mulanje holds deep spiritual significance for local populations who consider it sacred.

Conservationists warn that mining operations could devastate the mountain’s delicate ecosystem, undermining decades of sustainable development efforts and threatening its newly recognized World Heritage status. The controversy highlights a familiar tension between economic development and environmental protection in developing nations. With Mount Mulanje representing Malawi’s third UNESCO World Heritage Site, the outcome of this dispute could set important precedents for balancing conservation with mining interests.

The mountain’s unique biodiversity hotspot status and its role as a critical water source make it particularly vulnerable to industrial activities. As opposition grows, the debate over Mount Mulanje’s future reflects broader global challenges in protecting irreplaceable natural heritage while addressing economic pressures in local communities.