Africa’s forests, once a vital carbon sink, have shifted to becoming a carbon source, a concerning trend highlighted by recent research. This transformation, occurring since 2010, means that all three of the world’s major rainforest regions—the Amazon in South America, Southeast Asia, and Africa—are now contributing to climate change rather than mitigating it. The primary driver behind this shift is human activity, particularly the clearing of land for agricultural expansion, infrastructure projects, and mining, which exacerbate vegetation loss and ecosystem degradation.
The study, led by researchers at the National Centre for Earth Observation at the Universities of Leicester, Sheffield, and Edinburgh, utilized satellite data and machine learning to track changes in carbon storage in trees and woody vegetation over more than a decade. The findings revealed that between 2010 and 2017, African forests lost approximately 106 million tons of biomass per year, equivalent to the weight of about 106 million cars. The most severely affected areas include the tropical moist broadleaf forests in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Madagascar, and parts of West Africa.
The implications for the agriculture sector are significant. As forests are cleared for agricultural land, the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services can lead to reduced soil fertility and increased vulnerability to pests and diseases. This can ultimately undermine agricultural productivity and food security. Additionally, the degradation of forests contributes to climate change, which can further disrupt agricultural systems through altered weather patterns, increased frequency of extreme weather events, and shifting growing seasons.
For investors, the shift from carbon sink to carbon source in Africa’s forests presents both risks and opportunities. On one hand, the degradation of forests can lead to financial losses for industries dependent on forest resources, such as timber and mining. On the other hand, there is a growing market for sustainable and climate-resilient investments. Initiatives like the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF), which aims to mobilize over $100 billion for forest protection, offer opportunities for investors to support conservation efforts and mitigate climate change.
The study underscores the urgent need for action to halt forest loss and protect the world’s natural carbon buffers. Policymakers and investors must work together to scale up initiatives like the TFFF and implement better safeguards to protect tropical forests. The goal set by world leaders at COP26 to end global deforestation by 2030 must be accelerated to prevent further degradation of these critical ecosystems. By doing so, the agriculture sector can become more sustainable, and investors can contribute to a more resilient and climate-stable future.