Trees, people, food and soil: A case study of participatory development in Malawi

Abstract

In rural Malawi, rapid population growth has contributed to deforestation, land and other chronic resource scarcities. In 1995, a team of Canadian graduate students and Malawian extension workers investigated and attempted to find solutions to specific local resource scarcities. Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) was used to assess total resource supply, evaluate food security and gender issues, facilitate village fuelwood action plan and inquire into the non-adoption of a tree nursery scheme. This article relates the team's experiences and insights against reviews of the history of forestry in Malawi, recent initiatives in forestry extension, and the current condition of Malawi's indigenous woodlands. It is concluded that villagers are willing to plant trees provided their costs are minimized and maize production is not compromised.