Deforestation and forest degradation are among the most pressing challenges facing Malawi today.
Rampant unregulated deforestation negatively impacts crop production and livelihood security, nutrition and public health as well as national economic development, undermining hard-fought development gains and leaving Malawi less resilient to climate change.
Unaccounted billions of kwacha are lost as a result of deforestation – stemming from poor management and the illicit trade enabled by corruption. Forest crime is increasingly organized, accompanied by the hallmarks of collusion, intimidation and violence.
Meanwhile, energy costs are spiraling as over 75% of urban families in Malawi rely on charcoal for cooking fuel.
To mitigate this dependence on charcoal, the Lilongwe Wild Trust Malawi has introduced the Modern Cooking for Healthy Forests (MCHF) project which promotes sustainable forest management, alternative cooking energy options and a stronger legal framework.
Lilongwe Wildlife Trust staff member Yolanda Ng’oma supports the Modern Cooking for Healthy Forests (MCHF) project. Here, on the International Day of Forests, Yolanda reflects on some of the solutions to the challenges facing Malawi’s trees.
“Some of the areas we’re seeing progress in reversing the effects of the illegal charcoal trade is a push for more sustainable consumption of forestry products as well as use of improved cook stoves and the adoption of fuel-efficient technologies’’.
Trees play a significant role in the hydrological cycle through reduction of run-off, control of floods, filtration of water pollutants and the supply of a large proportion of all water used for domestic, agricultural and industrial needs through forested catchment areas.
As we celebrate the International Day of Forests, there is need to remain dedicated to implementing a landscape approach that addresses wood fuel supply and demand and reduces underlying drivers of forest cover loss.”