The research led by Emilie Vansant and Charlotte Hall as part of our FORESTDIET project has showed that trees can support people’s nutrition in Malawi. This is because trees are an important source of fruits, nuts, seeds, and leaves. Yet despite the rising number of tree planting initiatives in Malawi, many indigenous tree species are still threatened by landscape degradation. This begs the question…
🌳 How can we harness all of this momentum around tree planting to support both indigenous biodiversity and better quality diets? 🌳
This past week, we brought together representatives from over 25 Malawian government and civil society organizations engaged in tree planting projects to tackle this important question.
Together with illustrator/graphic facilitator Mette Jeppesen, we led lively workshops for experts to connect and exchange knowledge around tree planting and landscape restoration. In particular, we discussed challenges and opportunities for protecting and propagating indigenous species – especially those with nutritious foods.
To launch this dialogue, we presented our brand new guidebook, “My Guide to Tree Planting, Featuring Indigenous Edible Species of Malawi”!
The development of the guide was led by Emilie Vansant as part of the TREETOOL project. It was created in close collaboration with Malawian botanists, foresters, and agroecologists. The guide provides technical information that is up-to-date, context-specific, and accessible to non-experts. It includes:
📗 Botanical descriptions of 24 indigenous tree species that provide nutritious foods in Malawi.
📙 A seasonal calendar to track flowering, fruiting, and seed collection phases for these species.
📘 A step-by-step guide to seed procurement, nursery management, and outplanting.
By placing this guide in the hands of practitioners working with farming communities, we aim to broaden the conversation around tree planting to include considerations beyond carbon – and encourage biodiversity stewardship for better nutrition🍊
Thank you to all of our wonderful workshop participants and especially our hosts: Soils, Food, and Healthy Communities (SFHC) and Permaculture Paradise Institute.
