Disappearing forests in Malawi

Malawi has exceptionally high rates of population growth (3.1%) and deforestation (2.4%), suggesting a Malthusian link between the two. The most important proximal cause of forest loss in Malawi has been the expansion of agricultural land. Population growth has been an important driver for this process, but is an insufficient explanation by itself. In Malawi’s case, it has been coupled with a lack of outmigration and an inability to intensify agricultural production on existing land due to high input costs. Furthermore, unequal land distribution resulting from the colonial estate system accelerated the displacement of farmers into marginal areas, while a loss of traditional land tenure rules left communal forests vulnerable to encroachment and exploitation. Now that most arable land has already been cleared, the main threat to Malawi's forests is continuing fuelwood demand. Malawi’s current environmental laws have many provisions for forest protection, but are lacking in enforcement. Nevertheless, a variety of shortterm solutions seem possible, including agroforestry trees to increase wood supply, efficient charcoal-making to reduce demand, and agricultural intensification and land redistribution to reduce forest encroachment. Long-term solutions include community management of forests, diversifying foreign exchange beyond Malawi’s environmentally destructive mainstay of tobacco, and reducing fertility rates with integrated family planning programs. Most of these solutions will have additional benefits such as economic growth, food security, and public health. When all the costs and benefits are considered, tackling the problem of deforestation in Malawi seems not only possible but imperative.