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Malawi country environmental analysis

Malawi currently faces an environmental cycle of decline and degradation. The challenges it faces are complex and interrelated, but there are two underlying drivers behind this decline. Population growth places huge demands on natural systems with more land being converted to agriculture and more forests being harvested for the wood fuel supply. Climate change magnifies these impacts by putting greater strain on land and forests due to increased incidents of natural disasters and extreme weather events. Proximate drivers of environmental degradation include weak land tenure security, unsustainable land management practices (driven in part by poorly designed and targeted agricultural subsidies), chronic shortages of public funding for environmental management, and weak institutions, particularly those at decentralized levels. The Malawi Country Environmental Analysis (CEA) compiles and reviews existing analyses on Malawi's environment and natural resources (ENR) and explores what this evidence means for poverty and economic development. The CEA also identifies 10 strategic recommendations to address the degradation of natural resources and the environment and to promote improved environmental management, investment, and expenditure practices.