Malawi is one of the world’s least-developed countries, with an economy based on subsistence agriculture and over 90 percent of its population rural. Malawi’s population has been hard hit by drought and crop failures, which have produced widespread famine in recent years.
Deforestation is a serious problem in Malawi. Between 1990 and 2005, the country lost nearly 13 percent of its total forest cover due to fuel wood collection and subsistence and commercial agriculture. Tobacco farming, which accounts for nearly 80 percent of the nation’s export earnings
Malawi rely heavily on wood fuel, as a major energy source for cooking and heating. In Malawi, the statistics are striking: an estimated 85 percent of the entire population uses fuel wood for cooking, in form of firewood and charcoal that’s according to the current energy statics available at the Department of Energy website. However, deforestation is primarily caused by the activities of the general population. Furthermore, tobacco industry and the environment is sometimes blamed for deforestation, but perhaps more importantly, it saps the country’s economy.
While there is general agreement that deforestation is a problem, there is has been consensus on its causes or on ways to develop a solution. Some of the proposed solutions include regulating the logging industry, developing forest protection schemes, and addressing human activities that promote deforestation. Recently, there has been agreement to promote the use of cleaner cook stoves that uses less fuel compared to three stove fire.
Several explanations have been given for the problem of deforestation as a result of human activity. One explanation is, the low level of knowledge of subsistence farmers. Farmers may not be aware of soil erosion or the benefits that trees can have on soil fertility. The recommended policy is to educate farmers about maintaining the land, and provide them with technology in the form of fertilizers or machinery.
Another way of addressing the fuel wood problem advocated by agencies such as the World Bank, is based on the idea that eliminating open-access sources of fuel wood and developing a controlled market will decrease deforestation. A controlled agroforestry market involves tree farming, fees on transporting fuel wood, and restricted areas where trees may not be cut for fuel. This strategy may not work where the government has little control outside of the capital, it would be nearly impossible to collect fees or enforce rules on harvesting fuel wood. Malawi simply do not have the institutions necessary to allow the operation of such market forces.
Other proposal focuses directly on the use of fuel wood. This may be done by providing more efficient methods of burning fuel wood, such as the fuel efficient cook stoves. This form of technology transfer has been introduced in almost all the districts in Malawi where deforestation is common and where it seems it’s a threat. However, the mere introduction of superior technology is ineffectual without modifying the behaviour of those using them.
None of the above proposals for dealing with deforestation addresses the fundamental issue of population pressures upon the land. Malawi population has been growing tremendously in recent years which has also contributed to deforestation.
Any serious attempt to deal with deforestation and its consequences must involve a commitment to reduce the population growth rate. Family planning policies will need to take culture, social values, and traditions into account to be effective. It may be necessary to approach the issue of population growth through indirect means to avoid conflict with social customs which leave women powerless to determine fundamental issues such as family size.
There is a strong relationship between the status of women and environmental degradation such as deforestation. Women’s level of education is negatively correlated with fertility: World Bank studies indicate that with every year of schooling a woman receives, her fertility goes down. Increasing women’s education also leads to better knowledge about nutrition and health, resulting in healthier children. Lowering infant mortality and improving children’s survival rates will reduce the demand for children. Educating women has the effect of improving the population as a whole, and helps to decrease growth rates. This in turn will lessen the population pressures upon the land.
Deforestation can be seen as a local issue with global consequences. Therefore, actors such as NGOs, partners and government, must work together to combat the problem. While external actors have a role to play in reducing population, they will be more effective in a supporting role. NGOs can provide knowledge about the problem of deforestation and techniques to handle the problem, but government must take the primary responsibility because ultimately their people are most affected.