Africa's forests have reached a critical tipping point. A recent study, using detailed satellite data, shows that around 2010, the continent's forests stopped absorbing carbon and started releasing it. Between 2010 and 2017, Africa lost about 106 million tonnes of forest biomass each year, adding roughly 200 million tonnes of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere annually. This dramatic reversal means these forests are now actively contributing to climate change, rather than helping to fight it.

This situation is particularly alarming because Africa is home to the world's second-largest tropical rainforest, mainly in the Congo Basin. These forests are not just trees; they are critical ecosystems that store vast amounts of carbon, help regulate rainfall patterns, and support incredible biodiversity. Losing their ability to absorb carbon means the world must work even harder and faster to reduce emissions from other sources to meet our climate targets, like those set in the Paris Agreement.

The main reasons for this devastating trend are widespread deforestation, where forests are completely cleared, and forest degradation, where forests remain but lose biomass due to selective logging, uncontrolled fires, or mining activities. Hotspots of concern include the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which recently saw its largest primary forest loss in monitoring history, along with Madagascar and parts of West Africa. These regions are facing immense pressure from small-scale farming by rural communities and the growing demand for minerals, which fuels artisanal mining.

Globally, while the rate of forest loss has generally slowed compared to previous decades, Africa stands out with the highest net forest loss among all regions between 2010 and 2020. This puts Africa in a stark contrast to some Asian countries that have seen forest gains. This troubling comparison highlights the intense pressure on tropical forests in Africa and parts of South America, endangering not only local ecosystems but also jeopardizing broader global climate efforts.

Beyond human activities, climate change itself is making things worse. Rising temperatures, more frequent droughts, and increased fires weaken forests, making it harder for them to recover and reduce their overall health. As Professor Heiko Balzter, a senior author of the study, warns, if we lose tropical forests as a key tool for mitigating climate change, we must cut greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels even more rapidly to achieve near-zero emissions. This puts immense pressure on national climate strategies, many of which rely on healthy forests to meet their pledges.

Efforts to fund forest protection are underway, like the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF) launched at COP30 in Brazil with billions of dollars. Global investment in sustainable forest management has also nearly doubled in recent years. However, experts agree that current funding levels are far from what's truly needed to address the scale of the problem, especially given Africa's rapidly changing ecosystems. The Congo Basin alone absorbs approximately 600 million tonnes of CO₂ each year, making its protection vital for global climate stability.

Reversing this trend is still possible, but it demands immediate and powerful action. Protecting existing forests is paramount, requiring governments to curb agricultural expansion, prevent illegal logging, and improve land-use planning. Crucially, providing financial and technical support to local communities and Indigenous groups, who are often the best guardians of these forests, is essential. While restoring degraded forests can help, it's a long-term process. Africa's forests shifting from vital carbon absorbers to emitters is a grave warning, highlighting the urgent need for stronger global cooperation, increased funding, and unwavering support for those on the front lines of forest protection. Without decisive action now, the world faces an even tougher battle to achieve its climate goals.