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One Plant at a Time for a Greener Future

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In Malawi, forests are under threat from deforestation and climate change, but a group of dedicated individuals refuse to stand by and watch the trees disappear. Led by Filina Sankhani, they are planting thousands of trees and fighting for a greener future.

The narrow path slopes steeply downward, and it’s easy to stumble over the scattered stones in the damp earth. Ants scurry across our sandaled feet. As the path evens out, a fenced-off area emerges, enclosed by tall walls made of reed-like material. Filina Sankhani leads us through the opening at the far end of the enclosure. Inside, hundreds of seedlings stand in neat rows. A few young trees provide shade and shelter, protecting the fragile, pale-green shoots. Handwritten signs identify the different species growing here. Filina moves carefully among the seedlings, tending to them with practiced hands as she shares her story.

Filina by the enclosure that houses the village’s nursery. Photo: Malin Kihlström

Filina is a member of a local tree club – a group of 25 committed individuals, including 19 women, four young people, and two men. She explains how she first became aware of the fragility of the environment through radio programmes and government initiatives encouraging action. Inspired by these messages, she decided to make a difference.

“We heard about the problems of deforestation and climate change, but I didn’t just want to listen – I wanted to act,” says Filina, gazing over the delicate plants.

Handwritten signs show what has been planted. Photo: Malin Kihlström
Support That Makes a Difference

With support from IM’s partner organisation, Concerned Youth Organization (CYO), the club received essential resources: seeds, planting tubes, and watering cans. Previously, the club had been inactive, but with CYO’s help, it grew into a powerful movement. Through meetings and collective efforts, they mobilised the entire village.

In just three months, the club has planted 4,300 trees. These trees are planted on communal land, but each member also tends to their own plot. The seedlings are also sold to generate income – money that is reinvested in more seeds and expanded operations. They plant both native trees, which stabilise the soil and take years to mature, and fruit trees such as papaya and oranges, which bear fruit within two to three years.

Filina tends to the plants every day. Photo: Malin Kihlström

Despite their success, challenges remain. CYO focuses on supplying trees that stabilise the soil and provide firewood, but the club must secure fruit trees on their own. They have also introduced strict rules to protect their newly planted forests: anyone who cuts down a tree without permission can be fined 5,000 kwacha and brought before the village leaders.

A Lack of Resources and Illegal Logging Threaten the Forests

Deforestation in Malawi is a critical crisis. Large parts of the population depend on firewood and charcoal for cooking and heating, while forests are cleared to create new farmland. One of the main drivers of this destruction is rapid population growth, increasing the demand for agricultural land and housing. Additionally, poverty means that many people cannot afford alternative energy sources, making firewood and charcoal the most accessible and affordable options.

Charcoal is openly sold along the roads in Malawi. Photo: Malin Kihlström

Weak legislation and poor enforcement also allow illegal logging to continue on a large scale. Corruption and limited resources for authorities make it difficult to enforce environmental protection laws, creating a vicious cycle of forest destruction. Climate change further worsens the situation, bringing recurrent droughts and shifting weather patterns that make forests more vulnerable and reduce soil fertility.

Hope Through Action

“We see the forests disappearing, and we see the consequences: drought, erosion, and poverty. But we can’t just stand by and watch,” says Filina firmly. “If we want our children to have a future, we must start now.”

“If we want our children to have a future, we must start now”, says Filina. Photo: Malin Kihlström

Despite the enormous challenges, there is hope. Filina and her club demonstrate that change is possible through dedication and cooperation. Their work is living proof that when a community comes together, they can break the cycle of destruction and create a greener future for Malawi.

Text: Malin Kihlström

By: Malin Kihlström