Mango Tree Planting for Land Restoration and Improved Livelihood

Disaster Recovery Limited (DRL) is implementing the Mango Tree Planting for Land Restoration and Improved Livelihood project in Nkhotakota District, Malawi. The project was initiated in 2022 to promote the restoration of degraded and underutilized land through  mango tree planting while creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for local households. Since its Establishment, DRL has planted over 10,000 mango trees, creating a growing foundation for productive and environmentally sustainable landscapes.

The projects promotes mango production as a nature-based approach to land restoration, climate resilience and sustainable agriculture. Mango trees help increase vegetation cover, protect soil from erosion, support carbon storage and provide habitat for birds and other small wildlife. DRL also promotes sustainable orchard management and climate-smart agricultural practices to improve tree survival, productivity and long-term environmental benefits of restored land.

Beyond environmental restoration, the project aims to improve household food security, income, and livelihood opportunities through mango production and value addition. as the trees mature, participating households will have an opportunities to benefit from mango sales, while employment and enterprise opportunities can develop in nursery management, orchard maintenance, harvesting, sorting, packaging, transportation and processing. DRL's long-term vision is to expand the project, restore more land and demonstrate how productive tree planting can deliver lasting benefits for people, livelihoods and the environment.