5.1. LAND USE ISSUES
5.2. FOREST LEGISLATION ISSUES
The manner in which the use and development of customary land is planned is a matter of great significance for the future of Malawi. Nonetheless, forests on these lands have been left unmanaged and continue to serve as an inexhaustible reserve for conversion to agriculture and other uses. Due to the growing pressure on forest resources, both for wood products and conversion to agriculture, there is an urgent need to identify the role of forestry in the land use of Malawi. It is necessary to review the agricultural situation and to evaluate the programme for agricultural development.
The existing forest legislation appears to be quite complete in regard to control provisions, both in forest reserves and on customary lands. However, it does not provide the necessary support to the forest policy objectives and forest conservation measures. While the major policy is to encourage local authorities, small farmers, estates and private entrepreneurs to establish forests and woodlots, the newly introduced community forest management, which has been misunderstood by many people, is rendering the new policy objectives futile. Amendments have to take note of local traditions and customary laws which, in fact, should have been blended with the amendments. Therefore, the forest legislation has proven to be ineffective in promoting participatory forestry on customary land, which is the only solution to the fuelwood crisis, as well as confronting the erosion of forest genetic resources in Malawi.
