Temwa Carbon Balance January 2025 Report
Malawi is currently facing severe consequences of the climate crisis, with communities in Nkhata Bay North enduring extreme weather patterns, including intense rains and extended droughts. These harsh conditions lead to soil erosion and crop failures, forcing many farmers to turn to felling trees as a source of income.
To address this challenge, Temwa Carbon Balance provides organizations and individuals with an opportunity to offset their CO2 emissions through community-driven initiatives such as tree planting, sustainable farming, and the management of local natural resources in the remote villages of Nkhata Bay North. Since 2020, we have successfully planted 180,475 trees, including 53,977 seedlings earlier this year.
Project context and aims
Approximately 90% of households in Nkhata Bay North rely on smallholder subsistence farming, with 58% of the population living below the national poverty line. These families depend on agriculture to sustain themselves but are increasingly struggling due to the impacts of climate change. Unpredictable rainfall, droughts, floods, strong winds, and crop pests are disrupting food production, further deepening vulnerability and poverty.
Tree Seedlings Raised
During the last half of the year 2024, Temwa Carbon Balance (TCB) embarked on raising tree seedlings. This was in preparation for the 2024/2025 tree planting season. The team established 14 tree nurseries, including 2 of Temwa’s own nurseries at the Honga and Usisya’s demonstration sites.
Community Capacity Building
Temwa trained 37 community members in seed identification, collection and storage, in preparation for the 2025/2026 planting season. These members are from 5 villages (Katuwa 2, kaulasisi, Honga, Jembe and Duwe). The training helped the members to identify local seeds that can be collected and be sown.
Stewardship of Natural Resources
From July, strides have been made in protecting the existing forests. TCB supported 16 woodlots in protection and management. 42 community members were involved in these activities from 5 villages. Fire outbreak incidences have reduced with only one forest affected.
Challenges and Lessons Learned:
Prolonged dry spells in February and heat waves in October affected the survival rate of sensitive trees, weak governance structures affected enforcement of natural resources management activities and a rising cost of living in Malawi affecting the budget for the 2024 work plan. More in the full report.
Conclusion:
Thanks to all our donors, Temwa’s support is making significant strides in reforestation, sustainable farming, and climate resilience in Nkhata Bay North, Malawi. As a result, communities are able to benefit from diversified incomes and improved farming conditions, as we work our way towards a more sustainable future.
Read the full Temwa Carbon Balance 6-month report here.
*As the trees planted are still in early stages of growth, this is an estimate of the amount of CO2 that the trees will balance over 20 years. The calculation takes into account potential factors reducing tree survival over time, such thinning, bush fires, plant diseases and felling. Once the trees reach adequate maturity, our carbon benefit assessment will be based both on current actual and long-term projected benefits
