Degradation of natural resources in Emanyaleni is highly influenced due poverty, charcoal, flue curing, firewood, harmful bush fires and tobacco growing as the major causes to loss of biodiversity in the area. Almost 85% of the people in Emanyaleni sorely depend on agriculture. This has puts more pressure on natural forest resources than in many parts of Mzimba district. The population grows at 2.9% per year and this, combined with rural-to-rural migration from densely to sparsely populated areas, means farmers often have no way to tackle their food insecurity and expand their operations except to cut woodland on customary land or to encroach upon the forest reserves as a means of looking for fertile land. This has threatened stock of biological diversity, and reduces the actual and potential forest goods and services on which its people can draw for social and economic development to reduce poverty.

The proposed project to bring about the objectives of addressing loss of biodiversity, disturbance and destruction of ecosystems and landscapes, and the associated loss of habitats leading to declining biodiversity throughout Mzimba district is one of GEF/SGP focal areas. The project has been designed to build a niche in promoting landscapes as an existing opportunity to improve community livelihoods and entry points across the community to address loss of the biodiversity.

As the supply of these resources become scares due to high deforestation, the land become highly degraded due to bare land which causes soil erosion and loss of stock biodiversity. Despite women being the main victims of natural resources degradation, women remain largely absent at all levels of policy making, project formulation and management of natural resources and the environment. The project will improve livelihood of marginalized groups such as women and youths as key gender issue in Malawi in addressing poverty. The project will use the community-based right approach and participatory approach to address biodiversity challenges Emanyaleni community is facing towards reducing poverty, by identifying gender gaps and empowerment issues as a critical cross-cutting issue. The proposed project will scale-up activities Vukani small irrigation, reforestation and rearing of domesticated birds. The project titled ?Emanyaleni Biodiversity Conservation and Livelihood Improvement Project? will promote gender responsive to achieve sustainable development through gender equality in the Emanyaleni community.