Oct 7, 2025
Cross-Border Study Highlights Urgent Need for Green Livelihoods in Malawi–Zambia Conservation Area
A new cross-border assessment has revealed mounting environmental and economic pressures in communities surrounding the Malawi–Zambia Transfrontier Conservation Area , calling for urgent investment in sustainable livelihoods and wildlife protection.
The Rapid Needs Assessment, conducted between December 2025 and January 2026, was led by a consortium including Cornerstone International eV , the Center for Environmental Education and Communication , Cross Border Trader Association , and Keeper Zambia Foundation . The study focused on rural districts in northern Malawi and eastern Zambia , including areas surrounding key ecosystems such as Nyika National Park and the North Luangwa landscape.
The findings paint a clear picture of communities heavily dependent on subsistence agriculture and biomass fuels such as firewood and charcoal. While these practices sustain daily life, they are also accelerating deforestation and placing increasing pressure on wildlife habitats.
Researchers found that limited employment opportunities—particularly for young people—are contributing to unsustainable coping mechanisms, including illegal hunting and informal trade. In border regions where enforcement is weak, these dynamics are further linked to wildlife trafficking risks.
“The link between poverty and environmental degradation is evident,” the report notes, emphasizing that without viable economic alternatives, communities will continue to rely on natural resources for survival.
The transfrontier nature of the conservation area presents both challenges and opportunities. Informal border crossings between Malawi and Zambia support small-scale trade but also create pathways for illegal wildlife activities.
At the same time, the study highlights the potential to transform these cross-border dynamics into economic opportunities—particularly through regulated markets for sustainable products and eco-tourism initiatives.
High levels of youth unemployment emerged as a critical concern across all surveyed districts. With few off-farm opportunities available, many young people turn to informal or environmentally harmful activities.
The report identifies youth and women as central to any long-term solution. It recommends targeted training programs in conservation, sustainable agriculture, and green enterprise development, alongside support for women-led income-generating initiatives.
Energy access remains a major issue, with most households relying on wood-based fuels. While clean cooking solutions are seen as part of the answer, the report notes that many existing technologies remain financially out of reach for rural populations.
In response, the consortium highlights the development of an affordable, off-grid solar cooking solution—designed using recycled materials—as a potential breakthrough for low-income households. The innovation aims to align with local cooking practices while reducing dependence on firewood.
Environmental threats across the region include ongoing deforestation, forest degradation, and widespread poaching. Limited enforcement capacity and resource constraints continue to challenge conservation efforts, particularly in remote areas.
However, the report stresses that conservation and development goals can be mutually reinforcing. Expanding community-based forest management, eco-tourism, and conservation jobs could both protect biodiversity and improve livelihoods.
The consortium is urging donors and policymakers to support an integrated, cross-border program focused on green livelihoods, conservation, and energy access. Key recommendations include:
Investment in climate-smart agriculture, beekeeping, aquaculture, and eco-tourism
Expansion of community-led forest protection and ranger programs
Strengthening cross-border enforcement and cooperation
Promotion of clean energy solutions, including solar and efficient cookstoves
Development of financing models and small business support for rural households
If implemented, the proposed initiative could benefit more than 300,000 people across four districts while safeguarding one of Southern Africa's most ecological corridors.
As pressure mounts on natural resources in the Malawi–Zambia Transfrontier Conservation Area , the study positions coordinated, community-driven solutions as essential to long-term sustainability.
By linking economic opportunity with environmental stewardship, stakeholders believe the region can transition toward a model where both people and ecosystems thrive—turning a zone of vulnerability into one of resilience and shared prosperity.