Fighting Floods with Forests: Mitigating Deforestation for Better Adaptation in Malawi

Malawi, one of Southern Africa’s most vulnerable countries to climate change, is increasingly facing the devastating impacts of extreme weather events, particularly floods and droughts. Located in South-East Africa and bordered by Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia, Malawi is a small landlocked country of 118 484 km2 (of which 22 762 km2 is covered by the lake) and stretches 900 km from north to south.

A quarter of the territory is made up of lakes, including Lake Malawi, the third largest lake in Africa. In recent years, rapid population growth in Malawi has led to significant deforestation, which has, in turn, increased the risks of landslides, soil erosion, and flooding. The interplay between population pressure and environmental degradation is becoming increasingly evident. As communities expand, trees are cleared for agriculture and settlement, stripping the land of its natural defenses. The result is a vulnerable landscape where landslides, soil erosion, and flooding have become more frequent and more severe.

While intense rainfall remains the direct trigger of most floods, the underlying causes are largely human-made. Deforestation in catchment areas, poor land-use planning, degraded landscapes, and inadequate drainage systems all heighten the risk. In some cases, the situation is worsened by the mismanagement of water discharge from reservoirs or the failure of both natural and engineered dams.

Flooding is Malawi’s most destructive natural hazard. Its impacts ripple through every sector displacing families, damaging infrastructure, disrupting livelihoods, and threatening food security by destroying crops and driving up food prices. The Lower Shire Valley, in particular, is a hotspot, regularly experiencing the worst of the floods, as seen in the devastating events of 2015(Southeast Africa Floods), 2019(Cyclone Idai Floods), and during Cyclone Freddy in 2023.

Despite the growing risks, research on flood hazards in Malawi remains fragmented and insufficient. Most studies have concentrated on narrow areas, such as the lower Shire River, or specific topics like water level changes in Lake Malawi or debris flows in mountainous regions. There have been commendable efforts using remote sensing and modeling tools to identify high-risk zones, as well as studies assessing the vulnerability of urban populations. However, a nationwide, data-driven approach to flood mapping and risk analysis is still lacking.

This knowledge gap has practical consequences. Without a comprehensive and accessible flood hazard map, Malawi remains unprepared for future disasters. It hampers early warning systems, emergency planning, and sustainable urban development. To address this, initiatives like the GEMMAP project (2016–2021) have begun to lay the foundation for better data collection and hazard assessment  but much more needs to be done.

As climate change intensifies rainfall patterns and deepens environmental vulnerabilities, the urgency for action grows. Strengthening Malawi’s capacity to predict, prevent, and respond to floods is not just about environmental management, it is about protecting lives, livelihoods, and the country’s development trajectory. For Malawi, climate action isn't about choosing between adaptation and mitigation, it's about surviving today without compromising tomorrow.

This article examines the double challenge Malawi faces, adapting to inevitable flood impacts while mitigating the effects of deforestation. It highlights how forest restoration efforts, alongside robust policies, can help reduce flooding risks and create more sustainable solutions for the country's climate future.

Deforestation: The Hidden Culprit Behind Malawi’s Flooding

Malawi’s deforestation crisis is a direct contributor to the worsening flooding problem. Forests play an essential role in regulating water systems by absorbing rainfall, preventing runoff, and stabilizing soil. When forests are cleared, these natural processes are disrupted, leading to increased soil erosion and more severe floods.

The forest cover has been in sharp decline for decades, with over half of its natural forests lost between 1972 and 1992 alone. Today, deforestation continues at an alarming rate of approximately 2.5% per year equivalent to a loss of around 33,000 hectares annually. 

The National Forest Programme (NFP) of Malawi, which aims to reduce deforestation, reports that over 60% of Malawi's forest cover has been lost in the past 40 years. A significant cause of deforestation is charcoal production, which contributes to nearly 75% of energy consumption in Malawi. This reliance on unsustainable charcoal use leads to large-scale tree cutting. Addressing the root causes of degradation requires reducing the country’s dependence on biomass for energy. 

Unsustainable farming and grazing practices have also played a major role in degrading Malawi’s land, leading to a significant loss of vegetation and expanding areas of exposed, barren soil. A 2017 study revealed that over 7.7 million hectares representing more than 80% of the country’s land area stand to benefit from land restoration efforts. To add on, agricultural expansion, particularly the conversion of forests into farmland for crops such as maize and tobacco has further degraded the land.

The World Bank  in the Country Climate and Development Report (2022), highlights that Malawi’s rate of deforestation is among the highest in the world, contributing to the country’s flood vulnerability and exacerbating the impacts of climate change. This report also provides land restoration that would strengthen climate resilience and protect development gains.

As a result, Malawi must urgently scale up land restoration efforts. Implementing solutions such as agroforestry, soil and water conservation, and watershed management can dramatically reduce soil erosion by more than half according to government estimates while improving crop yields and boosting water availability. These interventions not only enhance food security but also reduce the long-term economic losses associated with declining soil fertility and extreme weather events.

Land restoration also offers significant climate co-benefits. Restored landscapes can serve as carbon sinks, helping to offset greenhouse gas emissions. Malawi’s commitment to restoring 4.5 million hectares under the Bonn Challenge and the AFR100 initiative provides a clear pathway to achieving these environmental and economic goals. While it is a long-term process, its benefits accumulate over time and can transform Malawi’s environmental and economic future.

On a positive note, Malawi has implemented Agroforestry practices in areas like Kasungu and Machinga, where farmers integrate trees into their agricultural systems. This approach helps reduce soil erosion, increase biodiversity, and improve water infiltration effectively reducing the risk of flash floods. The UN REDD+ Programme, which Malawi joined in 2010, provides both financial and technical support to improve forest management and combat deforestation. Through this program, Malawi has the opportunity to restore up to 300,000 hectares of degraded land and reduce carbon emissions, contributing to climate change mitigation.

The Role of Youth and Local Communities in Forest Conservation

Youth and local communities play an indispensable role in Malawi’s fight against deforestation and climate-related disasters. Across the country, especially where flood risks are high, young people are not just passive observers of climate change, they are emerging as active leaders in climate adaptation, education, and advocacy.

In districts like Lilongwe, Chikwawa, Nsanje, and Phalombe, youth-led organizations are at the forefront of grassroots environmental action. Groups such as Green Impact Movement, Youth for Environmental Development (YED), and Centre for Youth and Development (CYD) are leading community-driven efforts to restore degraded landscapes. These organizations run awareness campaigns about the links between deforestation, poor land use, and extreme weather events like floods. They also engage in practical activities such as tree planting drives, community clean-up events, and training on sustainable farming techniques such as conservation agriculture and agroforestry.

Local communities, particularly those in rural and flood-prone areas, hold crucial traditional and environmental knowledge. Their daily interaction with the land gives them an intimate understanding of changes in soil quality, rainfall patterns, and forest loss. Community forest management groups such as Village Natural Resource Management Committees (VNRMCs) help oversee reforestation efforts, guard against illegal logging, and support sustainable harvesting of forest resources. When empowered with resources, legal support, and technical guidance, these community institutions become the first line of defense against environmental degradation.

Moreover, involving women and youth in forest conservation boosts not only environmental resilience but also social equity and livelihood security. Programs that link tree planting with income-generating activities such as bee-keeping, fruit farming, and fuel-efficient stove production help reduce poverty while protecting natural ecosystems.

To scale up impact, it is vital that the government and civil society organizations:

• Increase funding and technical support for youth- and community-led initiatives.

• Integrate local knowledge systems into national reforestation and climate adaptation strategies.

• Promote inclusive platforms where young people and local leaders can influence policy decisions.

• Provide training and mentorship for youth on sustainable land and forest management.

Mitigation Policies and Strategies: What Is Being Done?

Malawi has recognized the urgent need to address deforestation and flooding through national policies and climate strategies. Over the past decade, the country has developed a strong policy framework aimed at reducing environmental degradation, promoting sustainable land use, and building resilience against climate related disasters. However, despite these efforts, implementation and enforcement challenges remain.

Environmental Management Act (1996):

This Act aims to protect and enhance Malawi’s environment through the sustainable use of natural resources, promoting environmental education, and regulating activities like deforestation and land degradation.

National Forest Policy (2016):

This policy outlines a clear commitment to sustainable forest management and reforestation. It highlights the importance of conserving remaining natural forests while restoring degraded landscapes. A key focus is reducing reliance on biomass energy particularly firewood and charcoal, which drive deforestation. To address this, the policy promotes the use of alternative energy sources, including solar energy and fuel-efficient cookstoves. These alternatives aim to alleviate pressure on forest resources, especially in rural communities where over 90% of households rely on wood-based fuels.

Malawi’s Climate Change Policy (2016):

This policy seeks to mainstream climate change into all sectors of development, recognizing that environmental sustainability is integral to national growth. It promotes ecosystem-based adaptation and the use of natural solutions such as agroforestry, reforestation, wetland conservation, and watershed protection to mitigate the impacts of climate change. These nature-based solutions offer multiple benefits, including flood control, soil preservation, improved water quality, and enhanced biodiversity. The policy also encourages community-based adaptation, recognizing that local knowledge and participation are essential for effective environmental management.

National Charcoal Strategy (2017–2027)

This strategy aims to reduce deforestation by promoting alternative energy sources like solar and LPG, encouraging sustainable charcoal production methods, and providing alternative livelihoods to communities reliant on charcoal. The policy focuses on improving charcoal production techniques, strengthening enforcement of forest protection laws, and involving local communities in forest management. By reducing dependence on unsustainable charcoal production and promoting reforestation, it seeks to protect Malawi’s forests while meeting energy needs sustainably.

Malawi 2063 Vision and the National Climate Change Management Policy (2021 Update):

More recently, the Malawi 2063 Vision and updated climate policies stress the need for green growth and climate-smart agriculture. They promote sustainable livelihoods, resilient infrastructure, and landscape restoration as pillars of development. Land restoration, in particular, is seen as a long-term investment. Studies show that halting and reversing land degradation in Malawi could reduce infrastructure damage from flooding by up to 25% by 2050, while boosting food security and water access.

While these policies are strong on paper, enforcement remains a major barrier. Illegal logging and charcoal production continue at unsustainable levels, particularly in rural and peri-urban areas where regulation is weak. Many local councils lack the resources and personnel to monitor forest activities or enforce land-use restrictions effectively. Meanwhile, public awareness of the link between environmental degradation and disasters like flooding remains low in some communities.

To overcome these challenges, there is a need for:

• Greater investment in community forest management and agroforestry cooperatives

• Stronger enforcement of forest and land-use regulations

• Increased funding for alternative energy access, including subsidies for solar and clean cookstoves

• National public awareness campaigns that connect climate change, deforestation, and flooding

• Inclusion of youth and local leaders in restoration and reforestation programs

• Regional cooperation, particularly on transboundary river basin management

The Way Forward: A Double-Pronged Resilience Approach

As Malawi continues to face more frequent and intense flooding, the question is no longer whether to focus on adaptation or mitigation, but how to strike the right balance between the two. Mitigation efforts such as enforcing anti-deforestation laws, restoring wetlands, and promoting agroforestry must be prioritized to tackle the root causes of climate vulnerability. These strategies not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also rebuild natural barriers that shield communities from the worst of flood impacts. At the same time, adaptation must move beyond short-term disaster response to include stronger early warning systems, resilient infrastructure, and inclusive resettlement frameworks that ensure displaced families can rebuild with dignity.

Ultimately, the path forward lies in integrated planning that connects environmental restoration with community resilience. National policies like the Climate Change Policy, the Forest Policy, and the National Charcoal Strategy offer a foundation but they need stronger enforcement, greater youth and community inclusion, and sustained investment. A flood-resilient Malawi is possible, but only if we simultaneously address the climate shocks of today while reducing the environmental pressures that will worsen those shocks tomorrow. Fighting floods with forests is not just a slogan, it demands both urgent action.

Written by: Temwanani Mwase