Malawi's Central Region Records Single Fire Incident Amid Ongoing Deforestation Challenges

Malawi's Central Region Records Single Fire Incident Amid Ongoing Deforestation Challenges

Malawi has experienced a recent fire incident in its Central Region, highlighting the country's ongoing struggle with tree cover loss. Over the past two decades, Malawi has seen a significant reduction in its tree cover, with a net loss of 222,335.59 hectares, representing a 7.88% decrease in tree cover. This loss is primarily driven by shifting agriculture, which accounts for the vast majority of tree cover loss, followed by forestry activities.

The data reveals a worrying trend, as the total tree cover loss hectare has been consistently high, with the year 2022 alone recording 14,857.93 hectares lost. Shifting agriculture continues to be the main driver, contributing to over 97% of the deforestation in that year. The impact on the environment is substantial, with millions of metric tons of CO2 equivalent emissions released into the atmosphere annually due to these activities.