Judith F. M. Kamoto’s research while affiliated with Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources and other places

Forest landscape restoration (FLR) is purported to achieve socio‐ecological outcomes in addressing the interlinked crises of deforestation and land degradation, biodiversity loss, and climate change. While several instruments exist to substantiate progress toward such outcomes and the effectiveness of FLR interventions, various challenges hinder monitoring. This study uses a proposed analytical framework that articulates elements of restoration monitoring feasibility to examine the realistic application and convenience of proposed restoration monitoring instruments, focusing on Africa, where continental‐level flagships are scaling up restoration actions. We applied a critical content analysis guided by our analytical lens to secondary data collected from top‐down and bottom‐up monitoring instruments. A survey was also used to explore the level of knowledge and identify the tools and guiding frameworks used by restoration practitioners, which we analyze using descriptive statistics. Our analysis reveals 34 restoration monitoring indicators spanning biophysical, socio‐economic, and institutional realms, along with 196 related metrics. The strong emphasis on biophysical metrics relative to socio‐economic and institutional ones reflects unbalanced attention to sustainability dimensions. Our analysis of the identified 39 monitoring tools and guiding frameworks indicates that most require essential (super)infrastructural capacities, appropriate knowledge, and tailored skills for their effective use. Confirming this, the survey reveals low awareness and use of these monitoring instruments, with the three most cited limiting reasons being inadequate funding, infrastructure deficits, and inadequate technical expertise. Overall, the results reaffirm the need for pragmatic, low‐cost, and accessible instruments to advance FLR monitoring in Africa, and we offer actionable suggestions for some limiting challenges.

The uptake of emerging biomass gasification technology that offers ultra-efficient cookstoves remains low in Africa despite its potential to reduce exposure to household air pollution, deforestation, carbon emissions (addressing UN Sustainable Development Goal, SDGs 7, 15, 13), and accidents from burns. Using urban households survey data (N = 216) from low-medium income townships of Lilongwe, Malawi, this paper assesses the acceptability and user perceptions of the Mimi Moto (MM), a fan-propelled pellet-fed gasifier cookstove that was distributed through a targeted marketing model. Findings reveal both very high popularity (91 % of users) of the MM despite stove stacking behavior characterized by households owning 2-3 stoves. Over 77 % of the respondents used the MM as primary cookstove. The performance measures and socio-cultural acceptance of the MM were rated as "high" to "very high". Cooking timesaving emerged as the most significant benefit of the MM, alongside reduced fuel consumption and expenses. Challenges identified include high stove prices, inconsistent fuel quality, and limited access to fuel distribution and stove-maintenance services. Findings highlight the popularity of installment payment methods with 77 % of respondents favoring this option, including 39.2 % who prefer payroll deduction. The study is among the rising few that focuses on urban settings. Findings suggest that the MM cookstove can offer a cleaner stack alternative to support a realistic goal of clean cooking and energy transition (SDG 7) in urban Malawi. This will benefit from effective distribution strategies to boost gasifiers uptake. Notably, emphasizing stove-cost reduction through creative financing and subsidies to ease acquisition; ensuring high-quality pellets and sustainable supply; providing stove maintenance and repair support; and underscoring cooking time and fuel savings along with health and environmental benefits in promotional messages are key.

The cypress aphid, Cinara cupressivora is a significant pest of Cupressaceae species and has caused serious damage to naturally regenerating and planted forests in Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean and the Near East. This study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of biological control of Cypress Aphids (Cinara cupressivora) using Pauesia juniperorum in Cupressus lusitanica clonal seed orchard in Dedza, Malawi. The data was extracted from monthly reports (1994 to 2002) of the Forestry Research Institute of Malawi. A statistically significant (X 2 =57.62, P<0.001) association was found between the presence of P. juniperorum and presence of C. Cupressivora. The reduction on the percentage presence of C. cupressivora was 23 times (Odds ratio = 22.9) more likely to occur in the presence of P. juniperorum than in its absence. The study further revealed that there was a statistically significant (X 2 =3573.06, P<0.001) association between the presence of P. juniperorum and damage of C. lusitanica. The damage on the C. lusitanica was 65 times (odds ratio 65.3) more likely to get reduced in the presence of P. juniperorum than in their absence. There was also a significant (P<0.001) difference in the mean number of cypress aphids per tree branch per month before (5.56±0.75) and after (2.69±0.51) the release of P. juniperorum. The study therefore confirms effectiveness of P. juniperorum as a sustainable biological control agent for Cypress Aphids.