The fight against Deforestation: Are we progressing or still falling behind in Africa?

As we continuously battle with the severe effects of deforestation, such as unpredictable rains, heat waves, floods and many more in different parts of the world, what is actually happening on the ground?

We know most of the countries in the world are obligated to the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework of 30 by 30 to increase protected areas to 30% of the earth’s land and water by 2030 but world population is still growing so is demand. Among ambitious targets, deforestation is getting worse in some areas while improving in others, where are we seeing positive change and where are we still falling behind?

It is hard to balance development with environmental goals. There are various factors that affect deforestation especially across Africa such as logging for commercial use and agriculture. For instance, in Malawi with less than half of the population having access to reliable electricity and extreme poverty, many of its citizens result in cutting down trees for firewood, charcoal burning. With electricity either too expensive or simply unavailable, cutting down trees for fuel has become a way of life for many struggling households.

Unfortunately, this has led to massive deforestation, causing problems like soil erosion, poor crop yields, and even the loss of important wildlife habitats. On top of that, burning wood and charcoal indoors exposes families to harmful smoke, leading to serious health issues. To tackle this, Malawi needs better access to clean and affordable energy, along with policies that promote sustainable alternatives and help people find new ways to make a living without depending on forest resources.

Countries in West Africa such as Ghana have lost some of  its forests to cocoa farming. Farmers clear vast areas of forest to plant cocoa trees, leading to habitat destruction, loss of biodiversity and even climate change impacts since trees play a big role in absorbing carbon dioxide. The situation is getting worse as changing weather patterns and declining soil fertility push farmers to clear even more land to maintain their yields. A more sustainable approach, like agroforestry could help protect forests while still allowing farmers to earn a living.

On the flip side, Rwanda has made huge strides in forest conservation, showing that it’s possible to turn things around with the right policies. The government has put in place strong laws to protect forests, launched nationwide tree-planting campaigns and actively involved local communities in conservation efforts. As a result, Rwanda has actually increased its forest cover over the years which many countries are struggling to do.

Conservation isn’t just about protecting trees; it’s also about creating opportunities, people are encouraged to take part in sustainable forestry practices and eco-friendly businesses like ecotourism are thriving. By taking an approach that benefits both the environment and the economy, Rwanda has set an example for how conservation can work in the real world.

African Union launched the Great green wall initiative across the Sahel to have an estimatedly 8,000 km belt of trees to reverse desertification and its effects. It is a great restoration and sustainable initiative across the countries of Burkina Faso, Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan and in some countries, there are already 350,000 jobs created with about 18 million hectares of damaged land rehabilitated.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Congo basin which faces a lot of deforestation because of agriculture and illegal logging, just announced plans for the world’s largest community forest reserve, the Kivu-Kinshasa Green Corridor (Couloir Vert). Spanning a massive 550,000 km², it will protect primary forests, peatlands and biodiversity while boosting economic development in the conflict-prone area. Unveiled at this year’s World Economic Forum, this reserve is positioned as a global leader in tropical forest conservation.

With a $1 billion investment planned over the next 3-4 years, it aims to promote renewable energy, agriculture and logistics. Officially established last month, the initiative uses a participatory governance model involving local communities, inspired by stabilization successes in northern Beni and southern Ituri. It’s a bold step towards sustainability and peace in one of the planet’s most carbon-rich ecosystems.

All in all, these are just a few examples, but African countries are taking bold steps to restore and protect forests. From the Sahel to the Congo basin. There is belief and hope that with the support from global partners, local action the continent could move towards a greener future. As Africa walks towards its 2030 targets, every tree planted and forest protected is a step towards a sustainable world.