National Forestry Policy of Malawi

The importance of forests and trees in improving human welfare is increasingly recognized worldwide. Both natural and man-made forests play an important role in providing basic human needs (fuel, food fodder fibre and pharmaceuticals), employment, income and foreign exchange, hence contributing to socio-economic development. Estimates based on the mean January to April 1993 prices indicate that the 1993 retail value of urban annual consumption was about MK370.8 million for fuelwood and MK16.4 million for charcoal As integral component of the biosphere, forests help to stabilize natural systems and contribute to biological diversity, and provide habitat for fauna and flora.

Forests help maintain air, water and soil quality; influence biochemical processes; regulate run-off and groundwater; control soil erosion; and reduce down-stream sedimentation and the incidence of flash flooding. Forests and trees may therefore be viewed in terms of providing watershed protection and enhancing water resources.

In Malawi, forests and trees meet the nation’s requirements for fuelwood and poles and for most of the timber required for construction, joinery and board manufacture. Furthermore, the existing plantations have the potential to meet the nation’s pulp and paper needs. The rural dwellers, who make up the majority of the population, rely to a large extent on forests for their needs in the form of fuelwood, bushmeat and other foods, construction materials, agricultural tools and medicinal plants.