About

3.4 million hectares or a third of Malawi used to be covered with forests. Today, 65% of that has already been cleared, a tenth of which in the last 10 years alone. This trend is likely to continue due to a rapid population increase: Malawi has quadrupled its population in the past 40 years.

Scaling Landscape Restoration

As there are two types of vegetation, assisted natural generation (ANR) and enrichment planting will be adapted to each type. In the montane forests, our team will plant the endemic Mulanje Cedar, a species that is sensitive to disturbance and not able to generate quickly by itself. Active planting is therefore necessary, and the seedlings are carefully grown in local community nurseries. The miombo woodlands, on the other hand, are restored with up to 70 tree species typical of the vegetation type, such as the Uapaca and the Brachystegia trees. This dominant forest type is able to quickly regenerate from root or seed stock.

Measure Progress

Measurement of progress is taking place with rigorous satellite based monitoring technologies. Deforestation and fires will be monitored in real time to enable appropriate measures.

20 Million Trees Planted

This ambitious collaboration intends to plant more than 20 million trees of the next two years. The goal is to stop deforestaion of the Mount Mulaine landscape and to provide income to local communities.