Africa's forests sound a global alarm

A new study published in Scientific Reports has raised a stark warning: Africa's forests, once vital absorbers of carbon, have shifted into net emitters between 2010 and 2017.

- Dr Abdallah Belhaif Al Nuaimi

This reversal marks a dangerous turning point in the global climate crisis, with profound implications for biodiversity, atmospheric stability, and international climate goals.The numbers tell the story

• Africa lost nearly 106 billion kilograms of forest biomass every year during the study period.

• This decline translated into 200 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually — equal to the output of a mid-sized nation such as the Netherlands.

• The hardest-hit regions include the Congo Basin, Madagascar, and West Africa, where deforestation, mining, and shifting agriculture are accelerating forest loss.

Why forests became carbon sources

Forests turn from sinks to sources when tree loss outpaces regrowth. The study identifies key drivers:

• Deforestation that strips away carbon-absorbing capacity.