Promise Mkandawire’s Journey Balancing Carbon to Address Climate Change and Empower Communities
In the rural village of Kanolo, Promise Mkandawire, a 24-year-old farmer, is part of a community working to combat the dual challenges of environmental degradation and economic insecurity. Through Temwa’s Carbon Balance Project (TCB), Promise and his neighbours are turning to sustainable practices to mitigate the devastating effects of climate change while securing their livelihoods.
Malawi is at the forefront of the climate crisis, enduring a growing frequency of extreme weather events that are wreaking havoc on communities reliant on subsistence farming. Prolonged droughts, floods, and cyclones, like Cyclone Freddy in March 2023, which displaced hundreds of thousands, have intensified food insecurity and poverty. Unpredictable rainfall and soil erosion are diminishing agricultural yields, forcing many to resort to environmentally harmful activities such as charcoal production to survive. This cycle of deforestation and land degradation further exacerbates the climate crisis.
The TCB Project is tackling these issues head-on by promoting reforestation, agroforestry, and alternative livelihoods such as beekeeping. Since 2020, the project has supported the planting of over 184,000 trees, including 10,000 seedlings in Kanolo during the 2023/24 season. These efforts aim to restore degraded land, improve soil fertility, and reduce reliance on deforestation-related income sources. By balancing carbon emissions through tree planting and sustainable practices, the project not only addresses climate change but also empowers communities like Kanolo to thrive.
Promise joined the Kanolo Village Natural Resources Management Committee (VNRMC) in 2023 after participating in community reflection meetings facilitated by Temwa. Recognizing the urgent need to protect their forests and diversify income sources, the committee adopted beekeeping as a forest-friendly alternative. With Temwa’s support, the group has installed 187 beehives, with their first honey harvest expected later this year. This initiative is helping preserve forests while providing participants with a new source of income.
Beyond beekeeping, the TCB Project emphasizes the importance of reforestation in reversing land degradation. In Kanolo, agroforestry and fruit tree planting are key components of this strategy. These efforts not only combat soil erosion but also enhance food security by providing families with fruit crops that offer both nutritional and economic benefits. Across Nkhata Bay North, 88 fruit orchards have been established, and training sessions are equipping farmers with the knowledge to manage these resources effectively.
As Malawi grapples with the climate crisis, balancing carbon emissions has become an urgent priority. Community-driven initiatives like TCB Project demonstrate how localized actions can address global challenges. By planting trees and protecting forests, the project contributes to reducing CO2 emissions while fostering environmental stewardship among participants.
For Promise, the impact of the project has been life changing. “I am proud to be protecting our forests and learning skills that will benefit me in the future,” he shares. Through the knowledge gained in beekeeping and sustainable farming, he is not only improving his family’s livelihood but also contributing to the long-term health of the environment.
However, as the latest climate science reveals, the scale of the crisis demands even greater efforts. According to Malawi’s representatives at COP29, the country is already experiencing the harsh realities of exceeding 1.5°C of warming. Addressing the conference, Malawi’s Vice President Michael Usi said “the consequences are not only economic, but also deeply inhumane. The catastrophe compromises food security, public health and infrastructure development, exacerbates poverty and undermines our hard-won development gains.”For rural communities, this means balancing carbon emissions through reforestation and adopting sustainable practices is no longer optional, it is essential for survival.
Promise Mkandawire’s story highlights the potential of combining carbon-balancing initiatives with sustainable development. By empowering communities to restore their environment and embrace alternative livelihoods, Temwa is building resilience against climate change while helping families like Promise’s secure a better future.
Read more about Temwa Carbon Balance in our latest report here.