Africa’s Forests Are Currently Emitting More CO2 Than They Absorb

Africa’s forests currently release more carbon dioxide than they can absorb, complicating global efforts to achieve net-zero emissions.

The continent’s forests and shrublands were once among the largest carbon sinks, contributing to 20% of all carbon dioxide absorption by plants. The Congo rainforest, the second largest in the world after the Amazon, is often termed the “lungs of Africa,” absorbing roughly 600 million tons of CO2 each year. Unfortunately, this vital ecosystem is diminishing due to logging and mining activities.

Recent research indicates that Africa’s forests lost an annual average of 106 million tonnes of biomass between 2011 and 2017, following a period of growth from 2007 to 2010. This loss translates to approximately 200 million tons of CO2 emissions annually, primarily linked to deforestation in the Congo. Heiko Balzter from the University of Leicester, UK, highlights this concerning trend.

“To lose tropical forests as a means of mitigating climate change means we must significantly reduce emissions from fossil fuel burning and strive for near-zero emissions,” he states.

Balzter and his team utilized satellite data to measure aspects like canopy color, water content, and height at selected locations to calculate biomass levels. These findings were compared to on-the-ground measurements, although such data are scarce in Africa.

However, Simon Lewis from University College London cautions that satellite technology cannot accurately identify tree species within a forest and fails to reliably estimate carbon absorption in forests with high biomass or emissions from those compromised by selective logging. For example, a dense hardwood like mahogany retains more carbon than a lighter wood like balsa of equivalent size.

“Deforestation rates in the Democratic Republic of Congo have surpassed those of the 2000s, a fact we cannot deny,” he asserts. “Nonetheless, it remains uncertain if this will significantly alter the carbon balance across the continent.”

The study also overlooks the wet peatlands that lie beneath much of the Congo rainforest. These peatlands absorb modest quantities of CO2 annually and sequester around 30 billion tonnes of ancient carbon.

In recent years, the Amazon rainforest, once a significant carbon sink, has emitted more CO2 than it absorbs. While deforestation in the Amazon is somewhat regulated, the situation is worsening in Congo.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, impoverished farmers often clear rainforests for slash-and-burn agriculture, while many foreign-owned companies engage in illegal logging of valuable hardwoods such as African teak and coralwood.

During the recent COP30 climate summit in the Amazon, Brazil unveiled the Tropical Forests Forever Facility, a fund designed to provide investment returns to tropical nations at the rate of $4 per hectare of remaining forest. However, contributions to this fund have only reached $6.6 billion, a fraction of the $25 billion target.

Balzter believes this initiative could be more effective than carbon credits, which reward “avoided” emissions that often lack real value.

“It’s crucial to establish this tropical forest permanent facility swiftly if we intend to reverse the trend of increased carbon emissions from Africa’s tree biomass,” he emphasizes.