Mainstreaming behaviour change in biodiversity conservation

Bengang Village, Shenzhen Village, and Kejian Village are coastal communities in Xinwu, Taoyuan. Situated next to each other between the basins of Shezi Stream and Fuxing Stream, they feature four main ecosystems: algal reefs, windbreaks, stone fish weirs, and farmlands/ponds.

In 2022, the Hsinchu Branch of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency organized the “Forest-River-Fields-Sea Socio-Ecological-Production Landscapes and Seascapes (SEPLS) Localization Resilience Assessment Workshops (RAWs).” The RAWs identified key challenges faced by Xinwu’s coastal communities, including changes in natural and land resource utilization, climate change-induced natural disasters, environmental pollution from industrialization, invasive species, rural depopulation and aging, and the erosion of local cultural knowledge. Conserving and enhancing the resilience of these communities’ SEPLS is an urgent task.

In response to deforestation and soil degradation, CARD and LUANAR launched a Syntropic Community Food Forest  Demonstration Plot in Chimwala, Mulanje. Thedemo plot promotes sustainable agriculture by utilizing syntropic agroforestry, permaculture, and biofertilizer production techniques, which improve soil health and provide alternative income sources. Communities in Mulanje and Blantyre (Michiru Conserv Area) have successfully adopted these methods, generating income while restoring their land. This approach combines ecological restoration with economic opportunities, fostering local ownership and long-term conservation. Through training and participatory workshops, the initiative empowers communities, addressing environmental challenges while enhancing food security and resilience. This model highlights the importance of community engagement in sustainable land management and showcases the potential for local solutions to combat environmental degradation. 

Farm Radio Trust (FRT) is a Malawian NGO dedicated to improving smallholder farmers’ access to agricultural information through radio and ICT-based platforms. In rural areas where formal extension services are limited, radio remains a trusted source of knowledge. FRT uses this medium—alongside mobile and digital tools—to deliver inclusive, accurate, and locally relevant extension and advisory services.  We bridge the gap between farmers and extension worker ratio and reach to a wider community, scaling out agriculture innovations.

The Solution addresses the lack of access to reliable agricultural information among men, women, and youth farmers. It increases awareness and adoption of climate-resilient and productivity-enhancing practices by making information accessible and understandable. FRT also supports policy integration of ICT in extension systems and promotes the use of market linkage platforms, improving farmers’ access to inputs, services, and markets, and strengthening agricultural value chains.

Malawi Green Corps supports Malawi Vision 2063 by advancing a greener economy and unlocking youth potential as key agents of development. It aligns with the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030), aiming to prevent, and reverse ecosystem degradation. The initiative builds on lessons from the Malawi Youth Forestry Service and the COVID-19 recovery plan. Through government-identified hotspots in 10 districts, Catholic Relief Service (CRS) provides human and financial resources to recruit and train up to 2,000 youth aged 18–35 in environmental and forestry management, entrepreneurship, and forest literacy. Each youth cohort participates for up to 4 months. During this period, youth acquire practical skills and opportunities to generate green jobs, support others through employment, and contribute to building a sustainable economy. CRS oversees day-to-day supervision of participants, while overall project monitoring is conducted by UNDP Malawi in coordination with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change.

Tiyeni empowers Malawian farmers with Deep Bed Farming (DBF), a climate resilient method that boosts crop yields, improves water retention, and restores degraded soils, also known as Biointensive Gardening in other countries. By breaking the hardpan layer, DBF enhances soil fertility, reducing erosion and increasing food security. Since 2013, Tiyeni has trained over 15,000 farmers, with many achieving full food security and seeing a nearly ninefold profitability increase in their first year. The approach is sustainable, using a peer-to-peer model, whereby Lead Farmers train others, ensuring long-term adoption. This decentralized system strengthens communities and supports environmental restoration. Farmers who embrace DBF witness healthier soils and more resilient farms, proving its effectiveness in tackling Malawi’s food and climate challenges. The demand for DBF is growing, as more farmers see its benefits and request training, making it a transformative solution for agricultural sustainability and land restoration.

In 2013, Kawandama Hills Plantation partnered with the Lucheche Cooperative to trial the planting of Corymbia citriodora trees on previously bare and underutilized land for income generation. The success of this initiative led to the cooperative’s formal registration and growth to 172 farmers, now managing 70 hectares of thriving trees. With support from a USAID grant (2016–2019), the farmers collectively sell an average of 80 tons of leaf biomass annually to Kawandama Hills for essential oil production. This reliable income has empowered farmers to build better homes, send their children to school, and launch secondary businesses such as dairy and egg farming. Importantly, the cooperative plays a vital role in reducing illegal bushmeat hunting and charcoal production by offering alternative livelihoods. Through mutual support and a revolving loan system, members encourage innovation and expand income-generating opportunities, contributing to sustainable land use and long-term economic growth in the region.