2025-06-122025-06-12https://dspace.unima.ac.mw/handle/123456789/1093The Centre for social research (CSR) in collaboration with a number of universities and government Departments in the SADC region conducted an action research whose aim was to see how best resources that are held in common could be better managed and used. The overall broader objectives to which the action will contribute are the protection of biodiversity on exploited commons and poverty alleviation. The research involves lesson learning from users and managers of common pool resources (fish, water, forest, land and birds). Here in Malawi the research was conducted in the Lake Chilwa Basin and the South East Arm of Lake Malawi.basic research