Institutions
Legislation
Environmental planning
Environmental impact assessment, audits and monitoring
Environmental Education and public awareness
Private sector and community participation
Environmental human resource development and research
Gender, youth and children
Demographic planning
Human settlements and health
Air quality and climatic change
Conservation of biological diversity
Land tenure and land use

4.1 Institutions

Objective:

To create the institutional mechanisms needed to implement a National Environmental Policy.

Guiding Principles:

(a) Environmental management needs a powerful voice not only for an advocacy for environmental protection and conservation, but also to ensure effective cross-sector coordination.

 
(b) An environmental affairs and coordinating institution should avoid implementing activities that can be implemented by sector departments and institutions.

 
(c) The role of the environmental affairs and coordinating institution should be limited to coordination, overseeing compliance and provision of technical and information services to relevant users.

 
(d) Formulation of overall environmental policies and coordination of environmental activities of sector ministries can best be achieved from a very high level within the Government's administrative structure.

 
(e) The location of the environmental affairs institution within the Government's organizational structure is critical to the effectiveness of the institution. Its placement must ensure that it has the requisite authority.

 
(f) The environmental affairs institution should be seen as a professional body whose opinions are considered as such and should be beyond political and/or business intrigues.

 
(g) The environmental affairs institution must be legally constituted and derive its authority under provisions of broad legal framework for environmental management. It should have a legal mandate to enforce compliance with national standards and have legal authority to seek legal redress whenever there is non-compliance.

 
(h) There must be close links and liaison between the environmental affairs institution and concerned line ministries and ministries responsible for finance, economic and social planning, local authorities and the private sector.

Strategies:

4.1.1. Provide the environmental affairs institution with the necessary resources to carry out its mandate to facilitate the implementation of the National Environmental Policy through the following actions:

4.1.1.1. in close collaboration with line ministries, advise government on all environmental matters;

4.1.1.2. in close collaboration with line ministries and other stakeholders, facilitate review and formulate environmental policies and strategies for consideration by the Government;

4.1.1.3. assist sector ministries to integrate environmental considerations into their sector strategies;

4.1.1.4. develop institutional linkages, coordinate and liaise with line ministries, local governments, local committees, the private sector, the NGO community, and international and bilateral donors;

4.1.1.5 assist line ministries and agencies to develop guidelines,and

4.1.1.6 advise concerned ministries, agencies or otherwise duly authorized institutions in enforcement of environmental legislation, regulations and standards; monitor compliance with environmental legislation and arbitration of environment-related conflicting interests;

4.1.1.7 monitor adherence to international treaties and agreements, provide relevant information and advise the concerned ministries or agencies regarding new regional or international agreements on environmental issues;

 
4.1.1.8 enhance national capacity for environmental management through the promotion and coordination of environmental training, formal and non-formal education; enhance environmental awareness among all sectors of the Malawian society;

 
4.1.1.9 advise and support government initiatives on decentralization as it relates to the environment (i.e. strengthening district capacity for environmental management, enforcement of standards, community environmental activities, environmental extension to villages and/or farmers);

 
4.1.1.10 ensure that sectoral policies and supporting legislation to be implemented by line ministries, departments and other institutions are consistent with and support the guiding principles and specific provisions of the National Environmental

Policy:

4.1.2. Strengthen the capacity and review the membership of the National Committee for the Environment (NCE), and Technical Committee for the Environment (TCE) which are responsible for advising the government through the head of the environmental affairs institution on issues of policy and facilitating the coordination and harmonization of the policies, plans and activities of Government departments, local authorities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the private sector and individual actors in the environment and natural resources fields.

 
4.1.3. Establish and maintain various environmental committees, i.e., Village, Area and District Environmental Committees, in order to ensure co-ordination at the local level and effective public participation in environmental decision-making processes and implementation.

 
4.1.4. Ensure that all line ministries and other institutions establish environmental focal points in order to achieve strong linkages on environmental concerns and close working relationships with the environmental affairs institution.

4.2 Legislation

Objective:

To create a legal framework for the implementation of the National Environmental Policy and sustainable environmental management.

Guiding Principles:

The law will:

(a) be formulated within the political, social, cultural and economic framework prevailing in the country and will not compromise the principles of sustainable development;

(b) ensure that all people living in the country have the fundamental right to an environment suitable for their health and well-being;

(c) provide a framework for formulating, reviewing, and updating sectoral laws on the management of the environment;

(d) provide a broad framework for both punitive and incentive measures;

(e) foster regional and international cooperation through agreements, conventions and treaties on sustainable utilization of natural resources and environmental management;

(f) provide a framework for encouraging maximum participation of individuals, communities and the private sector in the development of policies, laws and plans for the management of the environment;

(g) legalize the institution responsible for environmental affairs.

Strategies:

4.2.1 Enact an Environment Management law which will provide the legal framework for the regulation and establishment of guidelines for the conservation and management of all environmental concerns in Malawi, including:

4.2.1.1 Empowering the environmental affairs institution to oversee, coordinate and facilitate implementation of the environment policy.

4.2.1.2 Ensuring that an Environment Fund is established that will enhance implementation of environmental programmes. 4.2.1.3 Supporting development and implementation of a mechanism for application of environmental impact assessment (EIA) in all development projects.

4.2.1.4 Making a provision that enables government to declare environmentally sensitive sites/areas as protected areas.

4.2.1.5 Ensuring that sectoral and cross-sectoral acts are consistent with the provisions of the environmental management law.

4.2.1.6 Recognizing and supporting participation of Malawi in regional and international treaties and conventions on natural resources and environment.

4.2.1.7 Consulting with Treasury on the kind and type of fund and what kind of sources the mechanisms will spell out for the fund.

4.3 Environmental Planning

Objective:

To ensure that national, regional and district development plans integrate environmental concerns, in order to improve environmental management and ensure sensivity to local concerns and needs.

Guiding Principles:

(a) The NEAP shall be the key instrument for national environmental planning and the implementation of development programmes.

(b) District Environmental Action Plans shall take into consideration local concerns and needs and be disseminated to the public.

(c) Ensure that the District Environmental Action Plan is consistent with the NEAP.

Strategies:

4.3.1 Carry out periodic review of the National Environmental Action Plan whose purpose shall be to:

4.3.1.1. identify and assess the principal environmental problems facing the country;

4.3.1.2.provide a framework for integrating environmental concerns into plans and programmes for the development of Malawi;

4.3.1.3 identify strategies for preventing, controlling or mitigating any adverse impacts on the environment;

4.3.1.4 assist in the determination of priorities for action in respect of the environment; and

4.3.1.5. develop a national awareness of the importance of the efficient, sustainable and equitable use and management of the environment and natural resources.

4.3.2. To develop and review environmental plans at the district levels.

4.4 Environmental Impact Assessment, Audits and Monitoring

Objective:

To develop a system and guidelines for environmental impact assessment (EIA), audits, monitoring, and evaluation so that adverse environmental impacts can be eliminated or mitigated and environmental benefits enhanced.

Guiding Principles:

(a) EIAs will be required as deemed necessary to ensure that public and private sector development options are environmentally sound and sustainable and that any
environmental consequences are recognized early and taken into account in project design, and implementation.

(b) EIAs will consider not only biophysical impact but will also address environmental impact in terms of existing social, economic, political and cultural conditions.

(c) Environmental Mitigation Plans will be required for all activities where the EIA has determined a negative environmental threshold.

(d) Environmental Audits, including inspections, record-keeping and monitoring will be required for activities as determined by the mitigation plans or otherwise.

(e) Environmental Impact Assessments and Statements shall be made public and public comments on them invited and taken into consideration.

(f) EIA procedures should be cost effective, appropriate, reasonable and commensurate with the size, scope and relative impacts of the project or programme in question.

Strategies:

4.4.1 Develop guidelines and set standards for EIAs.

4.4.2 Gazette the types and sizes of all projects for which environmental impact assessment may be required.

4.4.3 Require that any person, private or public organization desiring to develop a project for which an environmental impact assessment may be required must submit a project brief.

4.4.4 Prescribe guidelines and regulations concerning the conduct of environmental impact assessments and the preparation of environmental impact statements, audits, monitoring and evaluations.

4.4.5 Review Environmental Impact Statements and take necessary actions to ensure that no projects proceed that may cause significant and irreparable damage to the environment.

4.5 Environmental Education and Public Awareness

Objective:

To increase public and political awareness and understanding of the need for sustained environmental protection, conservation and management.

Guiding Principles:

(a) Improved environmental protection requires political and public support and understanding of its importance.

(b), Environmental education shall be taught on a multi-disciplinary basis and integrated into on-going curriculum review at the pre-school, primary, secondary and tertiary levels.

(c) Environmental education and awareness shall be promoted through formal and non-formal education channels by all government institutions, NGOs, and theprivate sector.

(d) An environmental education and public awareness programme shall be targeted to all those in public and private sectors whose activities affect the environment in one way or another as well as to the general public.

Strategies:

4.5.1 Develop a national plan for carrying out public awareness through non-formal and formal environmental education programmes which will include the following:

4.5.1.1. intensified awareness programmes publicizing the scarcity and vulnerability of the natural resources of the country aimed at students and the general public.

4.5.1.2.environmental component in the Adult Literacy materials so that the programme can facilitate public awareness and community participation in natural resource management.

4.5.1.3. establishment of environmental education associations and clubs.

4.5.1.4. mandatory environmental education in all formal and non-formal education institutions.

4.6 Private Sector and Community Participation

Objectives:

(a) To mobilize initiatives and resources in the private sector, NGOs and CBOs to achieve sustainable environmental management and;

(b) To involve local communities in environmental planning and actions at alllevels and empower them to protect, conserve and sustainably utilize the nation's natural resources.

Guiding Principles:

 
(a) Natural resource conservation, protection and sustainable utilisation can only be promoted if community participation, empowerment and social and economic benefits from the natural resources is ensured.

(b) Government Ministries and Departments shall move towards becoming supervisory and regulatory bodies which provide enabling policy and legislative frameworks, for resource management activities.

(c) Implementation strategies will focus more on establishing an enabling environment to promote sustainable natural resource use and less on traditional Government managed development projects.

Strategies:

4.6.1. Train and re-orient extension officers in all line ministries and NGOs to facilitate community participation in natural resource management.

4.6.2. Return a significant portion of the benefits from sustainable utilization of natural resources on public and customary lands to the local communities whose collaboration is needed to conserve the resources.

4.6.3. Integrate local representatives into the decision-making process in order to empower local communities in the management of natural resources.

4.6.4. Provide incentives to the private sector to encourage their involvement in natural resource management.

4.6.5. Mobilise private sector resources to achieve environmental objectives through attractive pricing policy, contracts, leases and concessions.

4.7 Environmental Human Resource Development and Research

Objectives:

(a) To provide training needed to implement a national programme of environmental protection, conservation and management; and

(b) To carry out the basic and applied, demand-driven research needed to support sustainable management of the environment.

Guiding Principles:

(a) Both basic and applied environmentally related research will be promoted and shall be demand-driven and prioritized.

(b) Adequate capacity building is critical in environmental management, planning, impact assessment, monitoring, evaluation and review in the core ministry and other relevant sectors.

Strategies:

4.7.1. Encourage and finance research programmes on environmental management.

4.7.2 Include an environmental component to the training offered at all training institutions.

4.7.3 Provide training in specialized areas of Environmental Education such as planning, environmental economics and law, environmental information systems (e.g. GIS and related technology), environmental control, waste management ) and Environmental Engineering.

4.8 Gender, Youth and Children

Objective:

To integrate gender, youth and children concerns in environmental planning decisions at all levels to ensure sustainable social and economic development.

Guiding Principles:

(a) Both women and men should play a key role in the sustainable utilization of renewable natural resources and other development programmes.

(b) Basic training in environmental and natural resource management will include gender analysis methodologies and tools.

(c) Training, research and programme implementation should incorporate gender issues.

(d) Developing an environmental awareness among youth and children is critical to environmental sustainability now and in the future.

Strategies:

4.8.1. Ensure that public awareness campaigns on environmental management include women.

4.8.2. Facilitate women's participation in population and environment decision-making, resource ownership and management.

4.8.3. Collect and desegregate by gender information related to the environment.

4.8.4. Recognize the importance of gender roles and gender analysis in environmental management in all training programmes, at all levels.

4.8.5. Tailor public awareness campaigns, formal and informal education, and extension services in environmental and natural resource management to the
different roles and priorities of men and women.

4.8.6. Develop and implement an environmental education programme for the youth and children, including their involvement in pilot projects in natural resources and
environment.

4.9 Demographic Planning

Objective:

To ensure that the growth of the country's population does not lead to environmental degradation.

Guiding Principles:

(a) While it is the right of each individual and couple to decide for themselves the number of children they wish to bear, it is advisable to encourage child spacing.

(b) The annual growth rate of the Malawian population should be reduced substantially so that the growth of the population is more consistent with that of the economy.

(c) Information, Education and Communication (IEC) is vital in creating increased demand for family planning services and therefore IEC activities must be well coordinated to ensure that the messages of all agencies involved are synchronized.

(d) Population education in schools and colleges will make a major contribution to the implementation of the national population programme.

(e) In order to ensure effective family planning delivery, it is also necessary to improve maternal and child health, provision of safe drinking water and adequate sanitation, educational services, opportunities of productive employment and increased agricultural productivity.

(f) Success in achieving the objective of population policy crucially depends on changing negative traditional attitudes and practices as they impinge on the present disadvantaged status of women in Malawi.

(g) It is essential that responsibility for coordinating population policies and programs be entrusted to a high-powered body.

Strategies:

4.9.1. Strengthen programmes which increase awareness of the population problem and benefits of small family sizes and facilitate free access to information about contraceptives.

4.9.2. Integrate population and environmental education in the formal school system and other institutions of learning.

4.9.3. Undertake operational, social, cultural, economic and demographic research that will assist the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of population policy.

4.9.4 Prepare appropriate population policy messages for specific audiences and disseminate them through various means.

4.9.5 Strengthen family planning services through provision of community based family services, rather than facility based.

4.9.6. Add the population function to the mandate of the National Economic Council) (NEC) and support it by a Technical Advisory Committee comprising of experts:;. drawn from various disciplines relevant to the field of population.

4.9.7. Include women in the design, management and implementation of public and."' private/NGO population-influencing programmes.

4.10 Human Settlements and Health

Objective:

To promote urban and rural housing planning services that provide all inhabitants with a ." healthy environment.

Guiding Principles:

(a) Urban, district and rural planning and development activities should incorporate human settlement and health concerns.

(b) Human settlements should incorporate environmental concerns as well as disaster preparedness.

(c) Every person has the obligation to bring an action against any person whose activities or omissions have or are likely to have an adverse impact on the environment.

Strategies:

4.10.1 Develop sanitation master plans and provide environmentally friendly services to district and own councils.

4.10.2. Improve water borne sanitation systems and solid waste disposal using appropriate technology as well as proper design, selection and licensing of disposal sites and routes.

4.10.3. Enforce existing policies and laws through strengthening institutional capacity and mechanisms for compliance.

4.10.4. Encourage adoption of systems that sort industrial, clinical, domestic and other, waste at source in order to facilitate recycling of materials wherever possible.

4.10.5. Encourage privatization of waste management.

4.10.6. Educate the public and local experts on best systems for design and implementation of sanitation projects.

4.10.7. Strengthen the health inspectorate for urban and rural area in order to assess the risks and consequences of environmentally related health problems.

4.10.8. Ensure that all hospitals, clinics, public places and residential areas have appropriate sanitation and waste and effluent disposal systems.

4.10.9. Strengthen inspections of work environments and improve knowledge of occupational hazards and safety measures.

4.10.10Promote efficient water use.

4.10.11 Enforce fire safety measures in all settlements, transport systems and public places.

4.11 Air Quality and Climatic Change

Objective:

To minimize the adverse impact of climate change and to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

Guiding Principles:

(a) Air pollution should be reduced in order to provide a healthy and sustainable environment for social and economic development.

(b) Greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced and greenhouse gas sinks must be enhanced in order to prevent interference with the climate system.

(c) It is necessary to control localized air pollution, especially in the urban environment, so as to reduce incidences of airborne diseases.

(d) The climate is a valuable natural resource which, if not well managed, can become a serious constraint to socio-economic development.

(e) Bush fires must be controlled to reduce air pollution and environmental hazards.

Strategies:

4.11.1. Develop a data base on air pollution through the establishment of a sound air quality monitoring system.

4.11.2. Develop and promote alternative energy sources to fuelwood and technologies in order to reduce the use of fuelwood and enhance carbon sinks.

4.11.3. Enact a clean air act.

4.11.4. Develop and enforce regulations regarding air emissions.

4.11.5. Strengthen the existing national climate/meteorological database and monitoring networks.

4.11.6. Assess and monitor the potential impact of climate change on the functioning ecosystems, vegetation patterns and net carbon sinks.

4.11.7. Use climate data to help guide land-use and economic development decisions.

4.11.8. Ensure adequate regional and international cooperation for the smooth exchanges of climate information and control of trans-boundary atmospheric air pollution.

4.11.9. Reduce gas emissions from the transport sector, and the manufacturing industry.

4.11.10. Maintain a National Ozone Protection Unit in order to promote use of ozone friendly technologies.

4.11.11. Enact appropriate legislation to support the mandate of the National Ozone Protection Unit.

4.11.12. Environmental awareness campaigns should include dangers of uncontrolled bush fires and proper management of bush fires.

4. 12 Conservation of Biological Diversity

Objective:

To conserve, manage and utilize sustainably the country's biological diversity .", (ecosystems, genetic resources and species) for the preservation of the National Heritage.

Guiding Principles:

(a) Conservation of biological diversity is a form of natural resource management: which has as its primary goal the maintenance of Malawi's biological resources to meet the needs and aspirations of both present and future generations.

(b) Biodiversity has an intrinsic value and is vital for agricultural, medicinal, scientific, research, tourism and other socio-economic developments.

(c) The conservation of biodiversity both within and outside protected areas is critical to environmental sustainability together with other policies such as land use policy and sustainable agriculture policies.

Strategies:

4.12.1. Identify valuable areas of biodiversity, particularly outside of protected areas, and in consultation with local communities, explore means of protecting such
areas, including gazetting as protected areas, purchase of land-use rights or of conservation easements.

4.12.2. Ensure that programmes undertaken by the Departments of Forestry, Fisheries, and National Parks and Wildlife to protect biodiversity involve and provide benefits to local communities so that they are motivated to conserve the resources and use them in a sustainable manner.

4.12.3. Promote Eco-tourism both as a means of conserving natural resources and biodiversity, and of earning income.

4.12.4. Provide a mechanism for fair distribution of costs and benefits deriving from protected areas between central and local governments and local communities.

4.12.5. Foster public support and encourage private investment in biodiversity conservation through public awareness campaigns and appropriate incentive schemes.

4.12.6. Establish and develop biodiversity networks, both national and international for information exchange and consultation.

4.12.7. Promote and strengthen activities of the National Gene Bank.

4.12.8. Provide alternative income generating activities as a means of assisting the conservation of biodiversity.

4.12.9. Adhere or conform to international biodiversity treaty obligations that are relevant to Malawi's situation.

4.13 Land Tenure and Land Use

Objective:

To promote sustainable use of the land resources of Malawi, primarily, but not exclusively, for agricultural purposes by strengthening and clearly defining security of tenure over land resources.

Guiding Principles:

(a) The provision of security of tenure for smallholder farmers against estate expansion is important for sustainable resource-based production systems (including trees).

(b) Empowering CBOs to regulate resource management on common property in their respective areas should be given high priority.

(c) Customary rights to land and resource use will be recognized and protected, or alternatives provided, including the opportunity to convert to leasehold.

(d) A comprehensive land tenure policy shall encompass not only property rights to land but also other natural resources (e.g. trees, both planted and natural, water, fisheries, wetlands, minerals, rangelands and wildlife).

4.13.1.Develop a land use policy to guide and ensure sustainable land utilization and development.

4.13.2. Review information on land resources, use, occupation and ownership, and establish a computerized land information data base to provide up-to-date information for current and future planning.

4.13.3.Empower local communities to manage common property resources in an environmentally sustainable manner.

4.13.4.Review existing land laws in relation to all land tenure systems. Where necessary, new legislation will be introduced for customary, leasehold, freehold and public lands, including that providing for the introduction of land taxes to safeguard the productivity of land resources.

4.13.5. Develop and implement a national programme to rehabilitate highly degraded land.

4.13.6. Restructure and strengthen the Land Resources and Conservation Branch (LRCB) of Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MOALD) and Ministry of Lands and Valuation in order to cater for improved land use and compliance of the lease covenants relating to good land husbandry practices.

4.13.7. Establish a civic education committee to inform the public about the central role of land in poliTica1, economic and social development and also about current and impending legislation and procedures.

4.13.8.Increase incentives/penalties to promote sustainable productivity of leasehold land, including the increase of rents to reflect the land's market value or opportunity cost.

4.13.9.Improve co-ordination between ministries, other institutions and the environmental management institution with respect to land use and improved cultivation practices. This encompasses improvement at both the policy-making and field officer levels.

4.13.10. Promote an enabling environment for the development of a land market.

4.13.11. Promote tenants tenure security over land resources vis-a-vis estate owners.