Professor Wanangwa Paxie Chirwa is a Professor of Forest Science and Forestry Chair at the University of Pretoria’s Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences. Recognized internationally, he is a member of the African Forest Forum (AFF) and has received numerous prestigious awards.
In 2023, he was honored with the “Oscars of Science in South Africa”, awarded by the South African National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF)/South32, recognizing excellence in science, engineering, and technology. That same year, he received the Exceptional Achievers Award from the University of Pretoria. The South African National Research Foundation (NRF) also acknowledges him as a scientist of international standing.
Prof. Chirwa has supervised over 43 Master's students and 24 PhD candidates and has published 200+ peer-reviewed papers and book chapters. He serves as an Editor, Associate Editor, and Guest Editor for leading journals, including Agroforestry Systems, Journal of Forestry Research, Scientific African, and Southern Forest: A Journal of Forest Science.
He is the lead editor of the 2024 book Trees in a Sub-Saharan Multi-Functional Landscape: Research, Management, and Policy (Springer) and co-edited Miombo Woodlands in a Changing Environment (2020). He was also a Keynote Speaker at the 3rd International Tanzania Scientific Conference (December 2024).
In 2025, Prof. Chirwa serves as a Mentor for African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) Climate Action Fellowship and supports doctoral students through the Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (Rsif).
Through his research, mentorship, and leadership, he continues to advance forestry science and inspire future generations.
