Plastic pollution is a huge problem for our planet — harming wildlife, contaminating water, and endangering human health. This World Environment Day, join Ripple Africa and millions around the globe to say no to plastic waste and yes to practical, community-led solutions.
This World Environment Day we are proud to highlight the incredible impact our Fishing Project has had in Lake Malawi. We are helping restore fish stocks in Lake Malawi by working closely with local communities and Beach Village Committees to protect fish breeding areas.
One of the major problems on Lake Malawi is the use of illegal fishing gear, especially plastic mosquito nets sewn together and monofilament (single-line) nets, which catch even the smallest fish and damage the lake’s ecosystem.
We support local Beach Village Committees who patrol the lake, confiscate these harmful nets, and educate fishermen on sustainable fishing methods. We also encourage the use of Multifilament nets to allow young fish to escape and give fish populations a chance to recover.
Thanks to this community-led approach, fish stocks in protected areas are improving, helping to secure both food and income for future generations.
We work closely with farmers and communities to plant millions of trees every year, providing a sustainable source of timber and firewood for local people. By communities having a sustainable source of timber means that they are able to conserve existing forests and allow natural regeneration to take place.
More than 1,800 Conservation Committee members actively protecting these vital ecosystems within 340 sq.km of forest.
We also work with families and communities to plant thousands of fruit trees every year. They are trained in how to care for their tree orchards so that, in time, they produce enough fruit to eat and sell.
Fruit improves the health of vulnerable rural families as many people are severely lacking many of the important vitamins and minerals, and they are able to sell any surplus fruit to generate an income.
So far, we have helped communities construct over 125,000 Changu Changu Moto cookstoves and have supported the householders to maintain and use them. This has significantly reduced wood consumption with 250,000 fewer bundles of firewood being needed every week. With additional funding we hope to provide more Changu Changu Motos to expand the project.
