Key species

Malawi has rich plant diversity, with over 6,000 flowering plant species of which 122 are endemic. Of Malawi’s 192 mammal species, eight are listed as threatened on the IUCN Red List. Eighty-three species of amphibians have been recorded in Malawi of which six are endemic, while 8 of the 145 species of reptiles are endemic. Malawi has over 630 recorded bird species with just one endemic. On the other hand, of the over 850 freshwater fish species, 99% are endemic to Malawi. Malawi is also home to a wide variety of invertebrates and microorganisms.

Pressures and threats

Threats to biodiversity in Malawi are mainly human-induced and include habitat loss and fragmentation, over-exploitation of biological resources, introduction of alien species and climate change. Increasing human population and economic development have led to major land use change in Malawi, creating demand for land for agriculture and settlements. High levels of poverty have increased the reliance on natural resources, and particularly forests, which provide fuel for cooking for the vast majority of Malawi’s population.