THE ALL YEAR ROUND NATURAL TREE PLANTING PROJECT (YTP)

Malawi is one of the poorest and most densely populated countries in the world. The majority of people support themselves through agriculture and related ecosystem services. Deforestation is widespread in Malawi. It leads to erosion and subsequently to soil depletion among other things. The rapid disappearance of extensive areas of woodlands in Malawi has been the subject of some concern, particularly at the policy and planning levels. There is somehow an assumption that vast areas have been converted into wastelands as a result of wood- land clearance, mostly to support the expansion of arable agriculture, but at a considerable cost to the environment. Relatively little work has been carried out in Malawi on what often follows agricultural intensification in these circumstances: the development of household or community-based tree and woodland management strategies. While appreciating the roles that trees play in maintaining safe levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the atmosphere and in addressing climate change and assisting our agricultural areas to be more sustainable, it is equally important to highlight that they help to reduce atmospheric CO₂ levels. They also assist in preventing salinity and soil erosion; provide shade, shelter, food and habitat to native animal shelping to restore biodiversity in the areas we plant. The Inclusive All Year Natural Tree Planting approach (

“the science of planting trees throughout the year without watering”) brings the economic, nutrition, and medicinal benefits to vulnerable and marginalized households, where women and children are most affected. This is done by creating an integrated community led tree planting and management system, around natural trees that offer multiple benefits to women and children and their households