THE POLITICAL ECOLOGY OF DEFORESTATION IN MALAWI

ABSTRACT This paper analyzes deforestation in Malawi during colonial and post-colonial periods, examining demographic, agricultural, and fuelwood use practices that have influenced forestry policy. It will be hypothesized that artificial land scarcities have exacerbated deforestation pressures, forcing a significant majority of Malawi's population to subsist off a fraction of its land resources. This population-land distribution discrepancy has resulted in environmental degradation, challenging post-colonial Malawi's government to counter with appropriate forestry policy. Early post-colonial policies were “top-down” projects, however, after decades of unsuccessful results a transition has occurred in which “bottom-up” programs are advocated.