The Forest Trees and Woodlands in Africa report by the World Bank says these resources need to be valued “as diverse sources of jobs and livelihoods and as providers of valuable ecosystem services that are vital for increasing economic and social resilience including combating climate change”.
An article in Ghana Business News outlines how forests account for 23 percent of Africa’s surface area and a further 13 percent is covered by trees outside forests.
The World Bank report provides an overview of the varied ecosystems in sub-Saharan Africa that support forests, trees and woodlands and identifies seven action areas for management, policies and investments tailored to the specific environmental challenges of different regions across the continent.
Of particular relevance to the work of the World Agroforestry Centre are recommendations related to:
- Supporting private enterprise programs for a range of products such as Shea-nut and fruit in the Sahel
- Increasing access to finance for smallholder farmers in humid West Africa
- Supporting sustainable wood energy production around major cities in Central Africa
- Providing support mechanisms for planting trees in East Africa
- Supporting farmer-managed agroforestry using decentralized approaches in Southern Africa.
“Sustained engagement is needed together with a tacit acknowledgement that the most effective management approaches will be found outside traditional forestry institutions, so reforms and operations must be guided by a multi-sector approach,” says Jamal Saghir, World Bank Director for Sustainable Development in the Africa Region.
Read the full story: Managing Africa’s forests for economic growth, climate resilience
The full report can be downloaded from the World Bank website
