Ministry of Natural Resources
Growing Malawi’s forests for the next generation
We manage the nation’s forest reserves and plantations, license the harvest and movement of forest produce, and work alongside communities to restore degraded land.
Forest landscape restoration
Restoring 4.5 million hectares by 2030
Malawi has committed to restore degraded land under the Bonn Challenge and AFR100. Village committees, farmers, districts and partners are doing the work across the country.
Forestry Regulations, 2026
Closed season: no harvesting from 1 November to 31 March
Harvesting forest resources is prohibited during the rains unless the Director of Forestry has issued a special licence.
Who we are
Our mandate for forest management
Why it matters
Forests cover about a quarter of Malawi. They hold our soils, feed our rivers and supply most of the energy Malawian homes cook with.
- of Malawi under forest
- 24.4%
- Gazetted forest reserves
- 88
- Restoration commitment by 2030
- 4.5M ha
Working with
Our partners
What we do
We patrol reserves, license and check forest produce, and raise seedlings with communities — so that what leaves the forest is legal and what is cut grows back.
Our servicesOur vision
Malawi with healthy forests
Our mission is to guide, plan, coordinate, facilitate and promote the sustainable development, management and use of forest resources, through the active participation of all stakeholders, for socio-economic development.
About the Department
Transparency & accountability
Every licence, fee and decision can be traced and explained.
Teamwork
Forests are managed with communities, districts and partners — not for them.
Integrity & professionalism
The law is applied fairly, by trained officers, to everyone.
Excellence
Decisions rest on evidence from the forest inventory and monitoring.
Restoration on the ground
Progress on our restoration projects
Selected targets from projects the Department implements with communities and partners, as reported in 2026.
TLLP — forest area restored
7,679 of 8,454 ha
TLLP — farmland restored
5,850 of 7,845 ha
TLLP — endangered species reintroduced
21 of 30 species
IAAM — community woodlots established
80 of 80 woodlots
IAAM — degraded land under new cover
159 ha against an 80 ha target
Source: Department of Forestry projects summary, 2026.