Malawi has launched a 10-year strategy to tackle deforestation, as pressure from charcoal production, agricultural expansion and demand for cooking fuel continues to threaten the country’s forests.
The Forest Sector Turnaround Strategy 2026-2036 aims to restore degraded land, promote natural regeneration and expand access to cleaner cooking technologies.
Malawi loses more than 12,000 hectares of forest each year, while a further 14,000 hectares are degraded, according to figures cited at the launch.
Natural Resources Minister Patricia Wiskes said 98% of Malawians still rely on biomass for cooking, putting further pressure on forests.
“Our biggest problem is scale,” Wiskes said, questioning how many households had been able to shift from charcoal and firewood to gas or electric cooking.
She said the government wanted to encourage private-sector investment in addressing deforestation and developing alternatives to biomass energy.
“We need now to start looking at how we can look at the challenges that we’re facing now and turn them into investment opportunities,” Wiskes said.
Secretary for Natural Resources Misheck Munthali said deforestation, illegal harvesting, charcoal production and agricultural expansion had weakened the forestry sector.
The strategy seeks to strengthen restoration efforts and expand clean-cooking technologies, with government saying partnerships with the private sector and development partners will be needed to meet its 2036 targets.
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