During COP30, Terra Global’s Managing Director for Natural Resource Management, Erica Meta Smith, spoke to the Malawi Sunday Times about Malawi’s significant opportunity to scale up nature-based solutions by reducing deforestation and restoring degraded landscapes. Posted in the Sunday Times on November 16, 2025, the article highlights opportunities in Malawi for producing both verified emission reductions and removals.
For removals, she cites opportunities where nature-based solutions such as agroforestry and forest restoration can thrive in the country. For reductions, Erica discusses the importance of protecting the last remaining forests from further destruction. Both pathways can generate carbon credits, provided Malawi follows market standards to ensure emission reductions and removals are verifiable and tradeable.
Malawi has experienced significant historical forest loss, creating both challenges and opportunities. Restoring degraded areas can increase carbon stocks, enhance ecosystems, and unlock climate finance essential for durable forest stewardship and community benefits.
Terra Global’s work in Malawi spans more than 15 years, including longstanding collaboration with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) and communities living around three key protected areas, represented by the Nyika Vwaza Association (NVA) and the Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve Association (NAWIRA).
The Kulera Landscape Program covers more than 600,000 hectares across Malawi’s protected areas and has supported over 350,000 people living within 5 kilometers of forest boundaries. To date, the program has generated more than 3.3 million Verified Carbon Units (VCUs), equating to over USD 22 million in climate finance for forest protection, community development, and conservation activities.
As highlighted in the Sunday Times, Malawi is strengthening its national strategy to scale nature-based solutions through government-led programs and investments in climate resilience and sustainable land management. Terra Global is proud to continue supporting these efforts with technical, financial, and programmatic expertise.
As Malawi advances its forest, climate, and livelihood goals, Terra Global remains committed to working alongside government partners, community associations, and development organizations to implement high-integrity, community-centered climate solutions that benefit people, forests, and ecosystems.
Source: Sunday Times (Malawi), National News, Vol. 21 No. 48, November 16, 2025, page 4.
