tree planting in Malawi
Since 2024, we’ve supported the invaluable work of the Tree Project; a reforestation programme based in the districts of Blantyre Rural and Chikwawa, in Malawi.
Run by the dedicated team at NGO Fisherman’s Rest, the impacts of this project are transforming lives and livelihoods in rural communities and strengthening the local environment and ecosystems which are struggling in increasingly unpredictable and harsh climatic conditions.
why Malawi?
Malawi has the highest rate of deforestation in southern Africa, losing trees at a rate of one football pitch every ten minutes! It’s hard to imagine 144 football pitches worth of trees disappearing everyday, but that’s the reality, and it’s why supporting reforestation efforts is so important.
This rapid loss of trees, alongside the challenging conditions the country is facing due to climate change has caused serious problems including soil infertility, flash flooding and biodiversity collapse. These issues then impact local communities who face low crop yields, increased water scarcity and damage to their homes and vital infrastructure. And the situation becomes even more shocking when you learn that, as a country, Malawi contributes less than 0.02% of the total global greenhouse gas emissions – which are causing the climate change – but is already suffering the devastating impacts.
We’re already involved in water projects in these districts through The One Foundation, and it’s clear to see how the water challenges and deforestation go hand in hand (low water retention in soil, drought, flooding, and more), so we’ve got to look at the big picture.
what makes this project special?
Working with local farmers and their families, the Tree Project addresses urgent challenges in a targeted and sustainable way to maximise the benefits of their interventions. The first step is understanding the needs of each family so that the forestry team can work with them to plant their own micro forest using the most suitable seeds and saplings based on soil type, locality, and their specific needs.
These may be fruit trees – mango and papaya grow very well in Malawi – or agroforestry trees, which help to make the soil fertile and increase crop yields. Access to fruit is good for nutrition but it can also be sold to boost livelihoods. Whatever is best for each family is what the team works to do, and this means communities are really engaged with the project.
education is key
We also love that community involvement and education is at the heart of the project as this empowers community members to take ownership of their micro-forests, learn how to care for them, and enjoy the improved livelihoods they bring.
Education in schools is also a vital part of the programme in order to inspire the next generation of foresters! Augustine and Chinsinsi (from the Tree Project team) take saplings into schools to discuss the amazing characteristics of different trees and why they are so vital for people and the environment. Take the Sangowa tree, also known as the Moringa tree, or the miracle tree. This tree’s leaves and flowers contain more vitamin A than carrots, more vitamin C than an orange, more potassium than bananas and more iron than spinach!
One of the many success stories from the project comes from a local school, who now have a plentiful supply of papayas having only planted the fruit trees one year ago! The positive impact this has on nutrition, well-being, and childrens’ ability to learn effectively at school is phenomenal.
But will planting trees actually help stop deforestation?
In rural areas, deforestation is often mainly due to firewood collection for cooking. This is the way of life for those living in rural villages, so the Tree Project also aims to make this process more sustainable. They have developed a fuel efficient cookstove known in Chichewa (the local language) as a ‘Changu Changu Moto’ – translating to ‘fast fast fire’! These stoves reduce firewood consumption by 70%, which equates to a reduction of 3 tonnes of carbon (per stove) entering the atmosphere each year. Each family involved receives training on how to make a stove using easily-sourced free natural materials. Less carbon emissions, less time collecting firewood (which is normally the responsibility of women and girls), and fewer trees cut down, make these stoves revolutionary.
Deforestation also occurs as people want to cultivate the land to grow crops, but this is actually counterproductive. The Tree Project works to educate communities on the direct correlation between soil nutrition (enhanced by amazing agroforestry trees – no need for expensive artificial fertiliser) and crop yields, so that this cycle of deforestation is disrupted. Communities now experience improved soil nutrition, fewer landslides, and long term productive yields of crops, so it’s a real win-win.
following the project back at One HQ
The nurseries managed by the programme are geo-logged on Google Maps by the Tree Project team, and we are kept up to date with progress via monthly calls with the ‘Rooted’ community! So we actually hear from the team on the ground and different beneficiaries of the project every month via a video call from the field, wherever they may be! It’s fascinating to hear about progress, challenges and the impacts of the project, and it inspires us to keep working hard so we can continue supporting such a worthwhile project.
