Malawi Revised National Environmental Policy - 2004

The Government of the Republic of Malawi is still increasingly concerned about the deterioration of the country's natural resources and the environment. The biggest environmental and developmental challenge is how to narrow the gap between the degradation of the natural resources and the environment on one hand and sustainable production and economic growth on the other. The Government of Malawi adopted a National Environmental Policy in 1996 to provide guidance and set standards for development of sector policies in environment and natural resources. It provided an overall framework against which relevant sectoral environmental policies were revised and adopted to ensure that these are consistent with the principles of sustainable development.

It is now almost (8) years since the National Environmental Policy was adopted. Although the Government has already taken significant steps to implement the provisions of the National Environmental Policy, a lot more needs to be done. Many sectoral environment and natural resources policies and legislation have been adopted and enacted since then and experience has revealed that there are policy gaps, conflicts and duplications which adversely affect effective implementation of the policies. In addition, new national economic instruments and strategies have been developed and implemented which have significant impacts on environment and natural resources management. These developments and experiences have prompted Government to revise the National Environmental Policy to ensure that it remains current, responds to new challenges and incorporates lessons learned.

Among other matters, the Revised National Environmental Policy recognizes the importance of creating an enabling policy and legal framework for cross sector coordination, participation of non state sectors, strengthening the enforcement machinery and decentralizing natural resources and environmental management and governance. It therefore calls for development of mechanisms for cross sector management; facilitating active participation of local communities and other stakeholders in enforcement of legislation; and integration of environmental planning, management and institutional frameworks into the decentralized structure.

The National Environmental Policy is a key instrument and standard for environment and natural resources policies and legislation and should act as a guide for all sector activities at all levels. It is therefore my sincere hope that this revised National Environmental Policy will be a useful instrument to all stakeholders in the country for integrating environmental considerations into Malawi's social and economic development programmes thereby promoting sustainable development.