ACCESS4ALL Group

The case study Restoring Hope Through Mangroves – A Story from the Philippines highlights how environmental restoration can strengthen community resilience, reduce poverty, and empower vulnerable groups. While Malawi is a landlocked country and does not have mangroves, there are important similarities and differences in climate challenges, affected communities, and adaptation strategies.

1. Common Natural Hazards and Climate Change Impacts

In Malawi, the most common natural hazards include flooding, droughts, cyclones, and prolonged dry spells. Climate change has increased the frequency and intensity of floods and droughts, particularly in recent years. Cyclones such as Idai (2019), Ana (2022), and Freddy (2023) caused widespread flooding, loss of life, and destruction of livelihoods.

This is similar to the Philippines, where stronger typhoons have become more destructive due to climate change. However, unlike the Philippines’ coastal storm surges, Malawi’s disasters are mainly riverine floods and rainfall-related events.

2. Areas Facing the Greatest Impacts

The most affected areas in Malawi include:

• Southern Region (Lower Shire Valley, Nsanje, Chikwawa, Phalombe)

• Areas along Lake Malawi and major rivers

These regions experience repeated flooding and land degradation, comparable to how coastal areas like Leyte and Samar in the Philippines face repeated typhoon impacts.

3. Most Affected Communities and Why

The communities most affected in Malawi are:

• Smallholder farmers

• Fishing communities along Lake Malawi and rivers

• Women, children, and low-income households

These groups rely heavily on natural resources for food and income. Environmental degradation such as deforestation, wetland destruction, and riverbank cultivation increases vulnerability to floods and droughts—similar to how mangrove clearing increased disaster impacts in the Philippines.

4. Local Coping and Adaptation Strategies

In Malawi, communities use several local strategies to cope with climate shocks:

• Tree planting and riverbank restoration to reduce erosion

• Wetland conservation for flood control and food security

• Climate-smart agriculture (crop diversification, drought-resistant crops)

• Village savings and loan groups to support recovery after disasters

Although Malawi does not restore mangroves, these actions serve a similar function to mangroves in the Philippines by acting as natural buffers and supporting livelihoods.

5. Role of Government, NGOs, and External Support

The Malawian government, together with local NGOs, faith-based organizations, and international partners, supports communities through:

• Disaster risk reduction programs

• Early warning systems

• Reforestation and catchment restoration projects

• Social protection programs such as cash transfers

This mirrors the Philippine case, where NGOs, universities, and external stakeholders provided technical guidance and resources while communities led the restoration work.

Similarities and Differences

Similarities:

• High climate vulnerability

• Poor and resource-dependent communities most affected

• Environmental degradation worsens disaster impacts

• Community-based restoration improves resilience and livelihoods

Differences:

• Malawi is landlocked and faces floods and droughts rather than storm surges

• Restoration focuses on forests, wetlands, and river catchments instead of mangroves

• Agriculture plays a larger role in livelihoods in Malawi than coastal fishing

Conclusion

The comparison shows that while Malawi and the Philippines face different types of climate hazards, the underlying challenges are similar. Environmental restoration—whether mangrove planting in the Philippines or forest and wetland restoration in Malawi—plays a crucial role in reducing disaster risks, supporting livelihoods, empowering communities, and building long-term resilience. The key lesson is that nature-based, community-led solutions are effective across different geographical contexts.