Malawi aims to achieve 4.5 million hectares of restored landscapes by 2030. Using comprehensive approaches like Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR). Monitoring the progress of FLR is crucial for effective and efficient implementation with relevant information and feedback. Nonetheless, systems that encourage local participation in monitoring of FLR interventions are lacking. The study assesses the socio-economic context for sustainable and successful forest landscape restoration participatory monitoring. An understanding of this is part of creating an enabling environment for participatory monitoring in tracking the progress of the national forest landscape restoration strategy. Using Machinga district as a study site, evidence has been established for the consideration of socio-economic factors to encourage local participation in FLR monitoring. Participatory monitoring of FLR when designed to include local communities and adapted to diverse needs, opinions and conditions have the potential to complement highly technical monitoring of the National Forest Landscape Restoration Strategy. Therefore, to motivate local communities to participate in FLR monitoring, implementers will have to consider satisfying economic and welfare basic needs consistent with the physical, socio-economic environment. Otherwise, these needs left unaddressed may threaten the sustainability of forest and land restoration monitoring and implementation.
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