Communities living around the Chiweta–Tcharo mountain area in Rumphi District, northern Malawi, are experiencing renewed hope and improved livelihoods following the implementation of a climate-smart agriculture and forest land restoration project led by MP member
Life Concern (LICO), in partnership with the Rumphi District Council.
The project, Increasing Resilience Through Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forest Land Restoration in the Chiweta–Tcharo Landscape, is being implemented by the Traditional Authority (T/A) Mwamulowe. It covers seven Group Village Heads and eleven villages, directly benefiting an estimated 1 000–2 000 households living in a highly climate-vulnerable mountain landscape, approximately 1–20 kilometres from Lake Malawi.
Before the intervention, communities were severely affected by deforestation, erratic rainfall, soil erosion, landslides and declining crop yields. Unsustainable farming practices and uncontrolled tree cutting had left large sections of the Chiweta–Tcharo mountain slopes heavily degraded, resulting in deep gullies, loss of fertile soil and chronic food insecurity.
Today, visible improvements are emerging as a result of sustainable land management practices introduced through the project. Implemented with technical guidance from the Rumphi District Council’s Forestry and Agriculture departments, the initiative promotes ecosystem-based adaptation approaches, including reforestation, natural forest regeneration, gully reclamation and climate-smart agriculture (CSA), with strong community participation.
As of January 2026, approximately 4 500 hectares of degraded forest land have been restored through tree planting and natural forest regeneration. Communities have supported the re-demarcation and protection of natural forests through Participatory Forest Management Plans (PFMPs), helping to safeguard forest resources for future generations. Tree planting using indigenous species, bamboo and vetiver grass has contributed to stabilizing steep slopes, reducing soil erosion and protecting critical water catchment areas feeding into Lake Malawi.
In parallel, the project is promoting climate-smart crop diversification across 3 000 hectares of farmland. Farmers are now cultivating more resilient and drought-tolerant crops, including cassava, bananas and sweet potatoes. These practices have improved household food availability and incomes, while reducing dependence on external food assistance.
Traditional leaders have also welcomed the initiative. Group Village Head Chimphamba from the Tcharo area noted that the project has encouraged communities to take responsibility for their land and forests, reversing years of environmental degradation.
As climate change continues to pose serious challenges for vulnerable communities across Malawi, the Chiweta–Tcharo experience demonstrates how climate-smart agriculture and forest land restoration can work together to restore degraded mountain landscapes, reduce disaster risks and strengthen community resilience.
Written by Life Concern
