Scientists have cautioned against misguided tree planting initiatives in Africa which are posing significant threats to crucial ecosystems.
According to recent research, restoration projects spanning an area equivalent to France are underway, potentially endangering habitats through ill-suited planting strategies.
One notable initiative, dubbed the African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative, aims to afforest 100 million hectares of land by 2030.
However, concerns have been raised regarding its focus on non-forest ecosystems like savannahs and grasslands.
Alarmingly, over half of the tree planting projects in Africa are targeting savannahs, with nearly 60% utilizing non-native tree species, thereby heightening the risk of introducing invasive plants.
Inappropriate Reforestation Efforts
The misclassification of grassy ecosystems, such as savannahs, as forests potentially increases the issue.
Current definitions, including that of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, classify any area with trees exceeding 5 meters in height and canopy cover of at least 10% as a forest.
Consequently, savannahs are mistakenly labeled as forests, leading to inappropriate reforestation efforts.
Adding more trees to savannahs alters their natural environment by increasing canopy cover and reducing ground-level light.
This transformation according to the study, poses threats to various wildlife, including rhinos and wildebeest, as well as local communities reliant on these ecosystems.
Addressing these concerns, experts emphasize the necessity of tailoring restoration efforts to suit each ecosystem’s unique characteristics.
Also Read: Report Exposes Risks of Valuing Forests Mainly as Carbon Sinks
Professor Kate Parr of the University of Liverpool stresses the importance of revising definitions to prevent the misclassification of savannahs as forests, which inadvertently endangers their integrity.
Dr. Nicola Stevens from the University of Oxford warns against hastily funding inadequately assessed projects, which may yield minimal carbon sequestration benefits while potentially causing social and ecological harm.
“The urgency of implementing large-scale tree planting is prompting funding of inadequately assessed projects that will most likely have negligible sequestration benefits and cause potential social and ecological harm.” he said.
National Forest Cover Statistics
The focus on tree planting has been accorded precedence given Kenya’s heavy reliance on natural ecosystems like forests, rangelands, wetlands, and agroecosystems, which provide essential services and livelihoods to communities nationwide.
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Recent reports from the National Forest Resources Assessment 2021 underscore the current status of Kenya’s tree cover.
The nation currently boasts 17,742,168.02 acres of tree cover, representing 12.13% of the total land area.
Encouragingly, up to 37 out of 47 counties exceed the constitutional target of 10% tree cover.
However, there is room for improvement, as the country’s tree cover per capita index stands at 1,507.48m2 per person, indicating that Kenya’s national forest cover encompasses 12,914,201.16 acres, or 8.83% of the total area.
The 15 billion Tree Planting Initiative
President William Ruto has aligned himself with global and regional efforts aimed at mitigating climate change by championing the 15 billion tree planting initiative in Kenya.
Notably, he has thrown his support behind initiatives such as the African Union’s $8 billion Great Green Wall Initiative, which aims to restore degraded landscapes, particularly in the Sahel region.
Also Read: Environmentalists Criticize President Ruto for Lifting Ban on Logging
Additionally, he has endorsed Ethiopia’s proposal to plant 4 billion trees as part of their own ambitious reforestation efforts.
Despite facing challenges, such as unprecedented droughts, these programs remain crucial in combating the impacts of climate change.
Scientists and academics continue to advocate for forestation as one of the most effective strategies in mitigating global warming.
By expanding tree cover, these initiatives not only contribute to carbon sequestration but also help restore biodiversity and ecosystem resilience in the face of environmental degradation.
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