WHY MALAWI

With a landmass of 94,280 square kilometers and an ever-increasing population (currently estimated over 18 million), Malawi’s forests are under constant stress and are quickly disappearing, having lost nearly 50% of its forest cover in the last 35 years.

With 85% of the population living in rural areas, farming is a necessity for many Malawians. Unfortunately, poor agricultural practices lead to continuous deforestation, as farmers process large tracts of forested land to accommodate new gardens once the soil in their current location has been degraded.

It is estimated that 90% of the population relies on fuelwood (firewood, charcoal, etc) for daily lives. With less than 10% of Malawians having access to electricity, and only 2% using electricity for everyday cooking, fuelwood remains the predominant option for the majority of the country, leading to incredible numbers of trees being felled each day.