Malawi Plants 350,000 Trees to Secure Clean Water Supply

The Lilongwe Water Board is betting on trees to solve a critical challenge: keeping clean water flowing to Malawi's capital city as its population grows.

This year, the utility has already planted 350,000 tree seedlings across the Dzalanyama Forest Reserve, the main source of water for Lilongwe. The massive reforestation effort aims to reverse environmental damage that threatens the city's long-term water security.

Board Chairperson David Mbewe says last year's program proved the strategy works. The trees planted in 2024 achieved a 71% survival rate, an impressive figure that has energized this year's expansion.

"This is not just a ceremonial activity," Mbewe said during a recent planting event in Sinyala. "It represents our shared responsibility to protect the environment and ensure sustainable access to clean water."

The initiative brings together an unlikely coalition. Government ministries, university researchers, military personnel, police officers, and local farmers all showed up to plant 4,000 trees at the campaign launch, including 1,000 fruit trees that will provide food alongside environmental benefits.

Senior Chief Masumbankhunda is strengthening community rules to protect the young trees from damage. Local MP Peter Dimba praised the water board for maintaining the program year after year, noting that many environmental projects fade after initial enthusiasm.

The Ripple Effect

The tree planting is just one piece of a broader environmental protection strategy. The water board is promoting briquette production to give families alternatives to cutting trees for firewood and charcoal. They're also cracking down on illegal settlements in protected forest areas and vandalism of water pipes and equipment.

Meanwhile, communities near the forest are getting their own benefits. The Malingunde Water Supply Scheme recently opened, delivering clean water through 19 new community kiosks serving thousands of households. Residents who help protect the forest now have reliable access to the water it produces.

The program runs under the theme "Trees for Water Conservation, Water for Life," emphasizing the direct connection between healthy forests and water flowing from taps. As cities across Africa face growing water challenges, Lilongwe's approach shows how nature-based solutions can work when communities, government, and utilities collaborate.

The 350,000 seedlings now taking root represent more than environmental restoration—they're an investment in water security for generations to come.