By Grecium Gama:
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change has warned that continued destruction of the environment is putting Malawi’s future at risk.
The warning comes as the country joined the world in commemorating the 2025 International Day for Biological Diversity, which is being observed under the theme ‘Harmony with Nature and Sustainable Development.’
In a statement, Secretary for Natural Resources and Climate Change, Yusuf Mkungula, said human activities such as pollution, deforestation, overfishing, poaching and unsustainable farming are causing rapid biodiversity loss in Malawi.
“Biodiversity loss is endangering our food supply, clean water, and national development. We must act now to protect our forests, rivers, wetlands, and wildlife,” said Mkungula.
He said Malawi is blessed with a wide range of ecosystems that are critical for survival and development, but these are being threatened by illegal practices and neglect.
“Any decision that leads to biodiversity loss threatens our well-being. We urge all citizens to use natural resources responsibly and protect the environment for future generations,” he said.
The ministry is encouraging people to plant trees, avoid bushfires, use approved fishing gear, stop polluting the environment, and refrain from farming in protected or fragile areas like riverbanks and wetlands.
Mkungula also urged the youth to take part in conservation efforts and support restoration of degraded ecosystems.
He said the government is aligning its efforts with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which aims to halt and reverse biodiversity loss globally while supporting sustainable development.
“Let’s work together to restore balance with nature and secure a better future for all,” said Mkungula.
In its statement about the day, the United Nations Environmental Programme (Unep) says biological diversity resources are the pillars upon which the world builds civilizations.
According to Unep, fish provide 20 per cent of animal protein to about 3 billion people.
Over 80 per cent of the human diet is provided by plants and as many as 80 per cent of people living in rural areas in developing countries rely on traditional plant‐based medicines for basic healthcare.
“But loss of biodiversity threatens all, including our health. It has been proven that biodiversity loss could expand zoonoses – diseases transmitted from animals to humans- while, on the other hand, if we keep biodiversity intact, it offers excellent tools to fight against pandemics like those caused by coronaviruses,” says Unep in the statement.
The United Nations body says while there is a growing recognition that biological diversity is a global asset of tremendous value to future generations, the number of species is being significantly reduced by certain human activities.
It says the UN decided to celebrate the International Day for Biological Diversity annually to highlight the importance of public education and awareness about this issue.
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