Forestry (Amendment) Act, 2025: tougher penalties and wider enforcement
Entering a forest reserve without authority is now an offence, charcoal trafficking carries ten years in prison, and other agencies can enforce the Forestry Act.
The Forestry (Amendment) Act, 2025 (Act No. 31 of 2025) was passed by Parliament on 10 April 2025, assented to on 20 June 2025 and published on 27 June 2025.
Main changes
Entering a reserve. Entering, or attempting to enter, a protected area or forest reserve without authority is an offence, with a fine of K3,000,000 and imprisonment for five years.
Charcoal trafficking. Trafficking charcoal carries imprisonment for ten years.
Higher fines. A fine under section 68 rises from K5,000,000 to K10,000,000, and a new penalty of K50,000,000 and twenty years applies under section 82.
More enforcement officers. Officers of the Malawi Police Service, the Department of Road Traffic and Safety Services, the Department of National Parks and Wildlife, the Department of Fisheries, the Malawi Defence Force, the Malawi Revenue Authority, the Department of Immigration and the Malawi Environmental Protection Authority may exercise powers under the Act with the written authority of the Director of Forestry.
Investigations. Forestry officers may conduct investigations and prepare reports and materials for prosecution.
