Status and trends of biodiversity, including benefits from biodiversity and ecosystem services

The major ecosystems in Malawi are terrestrial and aquatic (the latter comprising around 20% of the total surface area). The greatest diversity of plants and animals exists in the country’s 97 protected areas (90% of which are forest reserves). Malawi has a total of over 6,000 flowering plant species, of which 122 are endemic, and 248 species are threatened with extinction... More »

Main pressures on and drivers of change to biodiversity (direct and indirect)

The main pressures on biodiversity consist of habitat loss and fragmentation, overexploitation of biodiversity, invasive alien species, pollution and climate change.

Implementation of the NBSAP

Malawi adopted its first NBSAP in 2006. Its implementation has been slow, uncoordinated and poorly monitored however certain successes have been achieved. Examples include the promotion of species and habitat restoration programs; increase in the population and distribution ranges of rare and threatened species; design and implementation of in situ and ex situ agricultural diversity conservation programmes with full participation of the local communities; strengthening of policies and legislation to enhance biodiversity conservation, sustainable use and benefit-sharing; development of cost-effective invasive species management programmes; strengthening of the participation of communities and the private sector as equal partners in biodiversity conservation and sustainable use and equitable benefit-sharing; capacity-building of institutions to collect, interpret, manage and disseminate quality and relevant biodiversity information and biological collections effectively and efficiently; and the strengthening of institutional capacity to manage biodiversity information... More »

Actions taken to achieve the 2020 Aichi Biodiversity Targets

Genetic resources of different plant species are conserved at the National Plant Genetic Resource Centre, Agricultural Research Stations, Botanical Gardens, academic institutions and the Forestry Research Institute of Malawi. As of 2012, the gene banks of the Plant Genetic Resource Centre had over 4,613 accessions from 32 species and, of these, 4,097 are seed samples and 516 are vegetative materials collected from all districts in Malawi... More »

Support mechanisms for national implementation (legislation, funding, capacity-building, coordination, mainstreaming, etc.)

Malawi has developed a Resource Mobilization Strategy for promoting investment opportunities and public-private partnerships related to biodiversity management, as well as for mainstreaming biodiversity management in the national development agenda. For example, African Parks Limited has a concession with the Government to manage Majete Wildlife Reserve... More »

Mechanisms for monitoring and reviewing implementation

Malawi’s revised NBSAP (2015-2025) which is currently being finalized has an associated monitoring and evaluation framework to ensure its effective implementation.