STATUS OF FOREST RESOURCES IN
MALAWI
CUSTOM N. NYIRENDA
DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY
Introduction
Forests provide social, economic and
environmental benefits
They support livelihoods through the provision
of shelter, energy, shade, medicinal plants,
income and food.
Forests contribute to the economy of the
country
They also are important as carbon sinks and
provision of ecosystem services
CLASSIFICATION OF FORESTS
Classification is based on tenure or type
I. Tenure
Public forests
Customary
Private
II. Type
natural/indigenous
plantation forests.
NATURAL/PLANTATION FORESTS
Total 88 forest reserves for 9,184.51 sq.km
Plantations cover 900 sq. km
The largest Government plantation is Viphya
 covers 53,000 Ha
Private plantations
STATUS OF FOREST RESOURCES
Natural forests
Miombo woodlands: 92.4%
Evergreen: 2.6%
Plantations:
5.0%
Pine: 3.4%
Eucalyptus: 1.1%
Others: 0.6%
THREATS/CHALLENGES TO FOREST
RESOURCES
Forest resources in Malawi are under massive
pressure
Agricultural expansion
Human settlement
Unsustainable harvesting for energy (Charcoal
production)
Timber requirements;
Uncontrolled fires.
Map LULUCF
Trend Analysis(simulated future forest
cover at the national level)
(a) Forest conversion risk map, (b) simulated forest cover for 2015,
(c) simulated forest cover for 2020.
STRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINABLE
MANAGEMENT OF FORESTRY RESOURCES
 Re-afforestation through promoting participation of
local communities in tree planting and forest
management
 Establishment and management of VFAs
 Strengthening community based forest management
PLANTING TRENDS
70,000,000
60,000,000
50,000,000
40,000,000
30,000,000
20,000,000
10,000,000
-
Tobacco Levy re-afforestation
• In Rumphi, Mzimba, Kasungu, Mchinji,
Dowa, Lilongwe, Ntcheu, Balaka, Mangochi
Approach
Consultations with traditional leaders
Sensitisation meetings to promote ownership
Training communities
Procurement of inputs
Strategies to promote afforestation
Establishment of nurseries at community level
Registration of VNRMCs
Provision of farm inputs
CHALLENGES TO TREE PLANTING
INITIATIVES
Survival rate of planted trees
Forest fires
Provision of incertives by other players in the
sector
PLANS FOR 2013/14 NFS
• Target
60,000,000
• Tobacco Levy afforestation
5,000,000
• Promotion of natural regeneration in areas
where trees have been depleted
Conclussion
Forests play multiple roles in social and
economic development; and environmental
protection.
Therefore, it is important that forests are
managed in a sustainable manner.