Many sectors in Malawi rely on biodiversity and ecosystem services and these include but not limited to agriculture, forest resources, fisheries, water transport, tourism, and energy – all of which significantly contribute to poverty reduction and sustainable development. Millions of rural Malawians who constitute about 85% of the population also rely on biodiversity and ecosystems for their livelihoods. Continued loss of biodiversity and ecosystems consequently results in the loss of irreplaceable functions with cascading impacts on the national economy, food security, household incomes, and social cohesion. In order to prevent this, government officials and other decision-makers need to have access to information about biodiversity that helps them to understand the potential impacts of the decisions that they are taking.
National conservation goals are yet at the bottom of government priorities, and this is despite their significance, particularly to the livelihoods of the most vulnerable and poor segment of society. Women, youths, and people with disabilities shoulder the unintended consequences of the deteriorating condition of ecosystems and landscapes. A report by the World Bank established that 90% of women above the age of 15 years are reliant on natural resources (i.e., biodiversity and ecosystem services) for domestic activities (e.g., collecting firewood, fetching water, and wild fruits for home consumption) in comparison to 24% of men. The report further established that about 24% of households in the country are headed by women such that when these resources are scarce, households are disproportionately affected and more likely to fall into the poverty trap. The information on the dependency of households and the benefits they generate from different types of ecosystems is often missing for proper programming and careful consideration for gender equality and social inclusion.
