WWF's Forest Landscape Restoration in Africa

Cameroon, often dubbed "Africa in miniature," hosts over 90% of Africa's diversity. With a significant portion of the Congo Basin within its borders, Cameroon holds a vital part of the world's remaining tropical forests and is part of the West Africa Biodiversity Hotspot. These ecosystems sustain over 27 million Cameroonians, providing essential clean air, water, energy, and food. Despite its role as a carbon sink and its classification as a greenhouse gas non-emitter, Cameroon's biodiversity faces mounting threats. However, the government's commitment to the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan offers hope, aiming to leverage natural resources for poverty reduction and national development while preserving ecosystem balance. Cameroon pledges to restore 12 million hectares of degraded landscapes by 2030, primarily focusing on the savannah northern regions and other key areas like the high plateau and coastal regions. WWF's Forest Landscape Restoration in Africa Initiative aims to restore at least 3 million hectares of degraded forest landscapes in Cameroon by 2027.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is a biodiversity powerhouse in Africa, with more than 11,000 plant species, 480 mammal species -about half of Africa's total -, and several birds and reptiles. Among these are unique and endemic creatures like the okapi, the Congo peacock, and the bonobo.

 

Covering over 150 million hectares, the DRC's forests represent 60% of the Congo Basin's forests, the world's second-largest tropical forest block. These forests are vital for supporting livelihoods and regulating the global climate. However, they face threats like slash-and-burn agriculture, unregulated hunting, artisanal mining, and wood harvesting for charcoal production.

 

To combat these threats, the DRC has committed to restoring 8 million hectares of forest by 2030. WWF has been actively involved in capacity-building, advocating for community rights in forest management, and supporting sustainable practices in the DRC for nearly two decades. Despite provincial-level forest landscape restoration (FLR) initiatives, the lack of comprehensive data hinders the quantification of their impact. To address this, WWF plans to assist the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development in establishing a monitoring and evaluation system at the national level, aiming to better track and assess FLR efforts and their contributions to meeting national commitments.

 

Kenya is renowned as the "cradle of humanity," with the Great Rift Valley yielding evidence of early human ancestors. It has diverse ecosystems encompassing rangelands, forests, freshwater, and marine areas including mangroves. Remarkably, about 65% of Kenya's renowned wildlife exists outside protected areas, thriving in private and community wildlife conservancies.

 

Kenya boasts five significant water towers, notably the Mau Forest Complex, crucial for supporting livelihoods locally and internationally. The Mau Forest serves as a catchment area for major rivers and lakes, sustaining ecosystems like the Maasai Mara and Serengeti National Reserves. Despite its ecological significance, unsustainable land and water management practices contribute to biodiversity loss and water scarcity.

 

The national government pledged to double the AFR100 goal, aiming to restore and conserve 10.6 million hectares of degraded landscapes through growing 15 billion trees by 2032. This will raise Kenya's forest cover to 30%. WWF-Kenya is actively involved, committing to restore 2.25 million hectares and engaging in forest landscape restoration projects across various landscapes.

Madagascar has nearly 10 million hectares of diverse forests. Its natural resources, including forests, agricultural land, reefs, and protected areas comprise over 50% of the country's total capital. This shows the importance of its ecosystems for sustaining livelihoods and biodiversity. As one of the countries committed to the AFR100 initiative, Madagascar has pledged to restore 4 million hectares of degraded landscapes by 2030.

 

In 2018, the country adopted a strategy for forest landscapes and green infrastructure restoration. WWF plays a pivotal role in supporting Madagascar's commitment, focusing on key strategies outlined by the government.

With an extensive marine area of 566,281 km², Mozambique supports diverse marine life, including migratory seabirds, marine turtles, and whale sharks. The country's vast mangrove habitats are known as 'nurseries of the sea,' fostering biodiversity and providing crucial support to marine ecosystems. However, forest cover depletion poses challenges, with illegal logging, unsustainable forest practices, and slash-and-burn agriculture threatening Mozambique's natural resources.

 

Despite social and economic challenges, Mozambique is committed to forest restoration, pledging to restore 1 million hectares through AFR100. The government's efforts, including forest law revisions and restoration strategies, underscore a growing commitment to conservation and sustainable land management, with potential benefits for carbon sequestration, biodiversity, livelihoods, and water security.

 

Uganda's wealth lies in its abundant natural resources including forests, rivers, and grasslands to fisheries, wildlife, and mineral deposits. It is home to endemic, endangered, and vulnerable species, with over 50% of the world's remaining mountain gorilla population found within its borders.

 

Uganda’s natural resources provide essential goods and services that support various sectors, including agriculture, fishing, and tourism, while also regulating essential processes like water supply, carbon absorption, and waste management. However, the loss and degradation of nature pose significant challenges to Uganda's future growth.

 

To address the threats facing its natural heritage, Uganda is partnering with organizations like WWF to enhance the management and restoration of high conservation value forests. Collaborative efforts aim to transition towards sustainable models of production and consumption of forest resources, ensuring benefits for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) while safeguarding nature for future generations.

Zambia economy relies heavily on mining and agriculture, with ongoing political reforms aimed at fostering private sector investment to spur economic growth. Despite these efforts over half of the country’s population lives below the poverty line.

 

Zambia’s forest cover spans over 45.9 million hectares and plays a vital role in the nation's socio-economic landscape. However, alarming rates of deforestation pose a threat to these invaluable resources, with agriculture, urbanization, and mining activities being primary drivers.

 

Recognizing the global importance of forests, Zambia, along with 141 other countries, pledged commitment to the Glasgow Forest Declaration during the COP26 summit. This declaration underscores the critical role of forests in climate change mitigation, emphasizing the need to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation sustainably by 2030. In line with these efforts, Zambia has committed to restoring 2 million hectares of forests through AFR100, demonstrating its dedication to addressing the climate crisis and promoting sustainable forest management practices. By safeguarding its forests, Zambia can mitigate climate change impacts, conserve biodiversity, and ensure the well-being of its citizens for generations to come.

Zimbabwe's forests and woodland resources, covering 42% of the country's total land area, are vital for both ecological balance and human sustenance. Dominated by species like miombo, mopane, acacia, and Zambezi teak, these forests provide crucial ecosystem services such as wildlife habitat maintenance, water regulation, and carbon sequestration. However, they still face significant threats, with alarming deforestation rates of 330,000 hectares annually, primarily due to conversion for agricultural purposes.

 

Addressing these challenges requires a concerted effort to strengthen institutional frameworks, foster community participation, and create economic incentives for sustainable forest management practices in Zimbabwe.