Africa's Forests: From Carbon Sinks to Sources

A new study reveals Africa's forests may now emit more carbon than they absorb due to deforestation and wildfires, transitioning from carbon sinks to carbon sources. This calls for urgent global forest protection, as the change threatens the achievement of global climate goals.

A groundbreaking study warns that Africa's once carbon-absorbing forests are now releasing more carbon than they take in. This transition from carbon sinks to carbon sources is attributed to deforestation and wildfires, making global forest protection efforts a pressing concern.

Researchers from UK, Europe, and Africa, utilizing satellite data, found Africa's forests gained carbon from 2007 to 2010 but lost a massive 106 billion kilograms of biomass annually from 2010 to 2017. This loss is equivalent to the weight of 106 million cars.

Experts urge immediate scaling up of the Tropical Forests Forever Facility's climate finance to end global deforestation. If not addressed, this shift risks making global climate targets significantly harder to achieve.

(With inputs from agencies.)