Does Malawi need a wetland policy to achieve the wise use principle of the ramsar convention?

Malawi is among countries experiencing chronic food insecurity, affecting over 70% of its population. Rural populations depend on wetlands for livelihood sustenance. About 50.2% of the population lives below the international poverty line (-1.90/day), which is driven by abject poverty, recurrent shocks, poor implementation of policies, and the absence of strong livelihood strategies Malawi Ramsar wetlands, such as Lake Chilwa and Elephant Marsh, are among the most densely populated areas in Africa, with 321 persons/km², and the majority of the households are heavily reliant on low-input subsistence farming on small landholdings where the soil is also seriously degrading. Under the current prevailing condition, balancing wetlands' economic exploitation to achieve national food security and management is a central debate on whether Malawi needs a wetland policy. This chapter meticulously discussed wetland concepts to assist policymakers in developing a clear road map to achieve the Wise Use Principle of the Ramsar Convention. It discussed how Malawi wetlands are positioned as the cradle of human and biological evolution and human sustenance. Issues linked to balancing wetland exploitation and conservation have been tackled. It has further explained how Malawi's sectoral policies contradict each other, how this contradiction affects wetland ecological restoration, and what practical solutions could be proposed. It reflected socioecological systems that link local communities' vulnerability, resilience, and coping strategies while providing the road map for Malawi to achieve United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and Aims of the African Union Agenda 2063.