Land use/land cover dynamics, trade-offs and implications on tropical inland shallow lakes’ ecosystems’ management: Case of Lake Malombe, Malawi

Lake Malombe supports various ecosystem services (ESs). However, it is increasingly experiencing human-induced pressure. This study used geospatial, household surveys, focus group discussion, key informant interviews, consultative meetings, and field observation on assessing the Land use/Land cover dynamics (LULCD), its trade-offs, implications ESs. The findings demonstrated a decrease in forest land (52,932 ha to 78,983 ha) at expense of cultivated settlements (7054 17,595 ha). Changes ecological indicators such as fishery, river flow, soil erosion, turbidity, biodiversity, invasion alien species, scenic beauty, extinction some frequent flooding, cultural value, carbon sequestration were significantly (p-<0.05) linked LULCD classes. are significant policymakers, managers, local population, stakeholders understanding conflicting interests policy priorities balance lake restoration human welfare.