This is the Likhubula river and its upstream catchment area. The foothills in the distance were once covered with impressive miombo forests, and the riverbanks with majestic riverine forests, of which now only palm trees remain. Over the last 10 years the landscape underwent dramatic transformation to bare land and degraded forest patches. Blantyre, the major city in the South of Malawi, depends on water from the Likhubula river for 7% of total city demand. Catchment degradation will have negative effects on the provision of quality and quantity water, unless the miombo and riverine forests undergo restoration through community-based natural resource management.