Africa’s forests, once a vital carbon sink, have become a net source of carbon due to widespread deforestation and degradation. A new study in Scientific Reports used high-resolution satellite data validated with field measurements to track Africa’s biomass changes from 2007 to 2017.
Researchers found Africa gained 439 million tons of biomass annually from 2007 to 2010 but lost 132 million tons per year from 2010 to 2015. From 2015 to 2017, the continent continued to lose 41 million tons of biomass per year, revealing a persistent trend of forest decline.
Losses were most severe in tropical moist broadleaf forests, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, and parts of West Africa. The study highlighted that gains in savanna regions, likely from shrub growth, partially offset forest losses but could not reverse the overall trend.
Historically, Africa’s forests absorbed roughly 20% of global carbon emissions through photosynthesis, playing a critical role in regulating the planet’s climate. Researchers warned that continued deforestation threatens to undermine international climate targets, including commitments under the Paris Agreement.
The authors urged stronger conservation policies, ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions, and global efforts to halt forest loss as pledged in Glasgow. They stressed urgent action is needed to restore degraded forests and secure Africa’s vital role in mitigating the climate crisis.