Africa's once-thriving forests have become carbon spewers rather than absorbers, a stark warning that urgent action is needed to save the world from ecological devastation. Since 2010, research has revealed a drastic shift in these natural wonders, now contributing significantly to global warming instead of mitigating it.
Human activities are to blame for this alarming trend, with widespread deforestation caused by farming expansion, infrastructure projects, and mining. The consequences are far-reaching, degrading ecosystems and exacerbating climate change through the burning of fossil fuels.
According to scientists at the National Centre for Earth Observation, between 2010 and 2017, African forests lost an astonishing 106 billion kilograms of biomass annually – equivalent to the weight of around 106 million cars. The tropical moist broadleaf forests in Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, and parts of west Africa were hit hardest.
A study published recently has highlighted this phenomenon, employing satellite data and machine learning to track carbon storage changes over more than a decade. The results show that Africa gained some carbon between 2007 and 2010 but since then, widespread forest loss has tipped the balance, making it a significant contributor of CO2 to the atmosphere.
Experts warn that urgent action is required to prevent further forest loss or risk losing one of nature's most crucial natural carbon buffers. The Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF) initiative aims to mobilize over $100 billion for forest protection by paying countries to leave their forests untouched. However, only a handful of nations have invested just $6.5 billion into this program so far.
"We need to scale up the TFFF rapidly," says Prof Heiko Balzter, director of the Institute for Environmental Futures at the University of Leicester. "Policymakers should put in place better safeguards to protect the world's tropical forests." The initiative is a crucial step towards countering drivers of deforestation, such as mining and agricultural land take.
For the TFFF to be effective, more countries need to contribute financially. Four years ago, at the Cop26 summit in Glasgow, world leaders pledged to end global deforestation by 2030, but progress has been slow. The new initiative offers a glimmer of hope that governments and private investors can work together to combat this pressing environmental issue.
Human activities are to blame for this alarming trend, with widespread deforestation caused by farming expansion, infrastructure projects, and mining. The consequences are far-reaching, degrading ecosystems and exacerbating climate change through the burning of fossil fuels.
According to scientists at the National Centre for Earth Observation, between 2010 and 2017, African forests lost an astonishing 106 billion kilograms of biomass annually – equivalent to the weight of around 106 million cars. The tropical moist broadleaf forests in Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, and parts of west Africa were hit hardest.
A study published recently has highlighted this phenomenon, employing satellite data and machine learning to track carbon storage changes over more than a decade. The results show that Africa gained some carbon between 2007 and 2010 but since then, widespread forest loss has tipped the balance, making it a significant contributor of CO2 to the atmosphere.
Experts warn that urgent action is required to prevent further forest loss or risk losing one of nature's most crucial natural carbon buffers. The Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF) initiative aims to mobilize over $100 billion for forest protection by paying countries to leave their forests untouched. However, only a handful of nations have invested just $6.5 billion into this program so far.
"We need to scale up the TFFF rapidly," says Prof Heiko Balzter, director of the Institute for Environmental Futures at the University of Leicester. "Policymakers should put in place better safeguards to protect the world's tropical forests." The initiative is a crucial step towards countering drivers of deforestation, such as mining and agricultural land take.
For the TFFF to be effective, more countries need to contribute financially. Four years ago, at the Cop26 summit in Glasgow, world leaders pledged to end global deforestation by 2030, but progress has been slow. The new initiative offers a glimmer of hope that governments and private investors can work together to combat this pressing environmental issue.
. I mean, think about it - Africa's forests used to be like superheroes saving the day by absorbing carbon, but now they're more like villains spewing out greenhouse gases 
. It's crazy! The amount of biomass lost is mind-boggling... 106 million cars' worth every year? 
We need to take action ASAP 
. I'm loving the idea of the Tropical Forest Forever Facility, but we gotta get more countries on board and contribute that $100 billion 
. It's not just about money, though - we need policymakers to step up their game and create better safeguards for our forests 
. We can do this, folks! Let's make a change and save the planet together 
The thought of all those cars' worth of biomass just being lost is heartbreaking. And the fact that only $6.5 billion has been invested in the TFFF program so far? 
It's like governments and private investors are waiting for someone else to step up. We need to see some real action now, not just empty promises from world leaders at climate summits. 
Can we really afford to lose these forests? I don't think so. We need to scale up the TFFF initiative ASAP and hold our governments accountable. 
its like we know the damage we're causing but dont wanna stop ourselves from advancing 
i mean think about it, forests are basically giant air filters for our planet 
we should be preserving them not chopping them down left and right 
it's like we're expecting them to just magically save the planet on their own 
newsflash: humans are the ones destroying these ecosystems with our reckless farming and mining practices 
the $100 billion TFFF program is a good start, but we need WAY more countries to step up 
Come on, world leaders, let's work together to save our planet! 
. It's appalling that human activities have led to the degradation of these natural wonders, now making them contributors to global warming instead of carbon sinks 
. It's disheartening to see only a handful of nations investing in forest protection programs like TFFF 
We're talking about losing 106 million cars' worth of carbon storage every year! What's the point of paying countries to leave their forests untouched if the global economy is still driving deforestation through mining and farming? It's like we're trying to put out fires with gasoline. 
I'm getting so sick of all these eco-warrior posts on here and then the forum itself is contributing to the problem by using servers powered by fossil fuels 
We need to practice what we preach! 
Africa used to be like the lungs of the earth, you know? Now it's just like our own backyard in California - all clear-cut and whatnot 
. It's crazy how much forest loss we're seeing. 106 billion kg of biomass gone every year? That's like losing 100 million cars! 
. Africa's forests used to be a carbon sink, but now they're contributing to the problem. It's not too late to change course, though - we need more governments and private investors to step up and support initiatives like TFFF 
. If we work together, we can make a difference 
. We need to redefine what success means in the context of the planet's well-being 
. Deforestation is like, so not new, but the scale is insane – 106 billion kg of biomass lost every year?! 
. Can't even blame it on climate change alone anymore, gotta include mining and agriculture too... just great