A recent study published in Nature reveals that human activities are transforming African rainforests from carbon sinks into carbon sources. Researchers from the National Earth Observation Center discovered that between 2010 and 2017, Africa’s forests and tree savannas shifted from absorbing carbon to releasing it, exacerbating global greenhouse gas emissions and undermining the goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement.
Using satellite data, the study showed African forests lost approximately 106 million tonnes of biomass annually during this period, significantly diminishing their carbon absorption capabilities. Key areas impacted include tropical hardwood forests in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Madagascar, and parts of West Africa.
The decline in carbon absorption is attributed to increased logging driven by agricultural expansion and infrastructure needs, coupled with rising carbon emissions from fossil fuel use. As Africa’s population grows and demand for resources intensifies, these pressures are expected to worsen.
While the Amazon rainforest also faces similar threats, Brazilian efforts to curb deforestation have so far mitigated the risk of it losing its carbon-sink status. To protect Africa’s forests, the report calls for enhanced governance and sustainable resource management, alongside a global push to reduce fossil fuel dependency. A potential solution highlighted is the Tropical Forest Forever Facility, aimed at securing $100 billion to incentivize conservation, though only $6.5 billion has been raised to date. The authors stress that without immediate action, the world risks losing vital carbon sinks necessary to achieve climate goals.
