Forest and Water Resources

Forests cover 31% of the Earth’s surface and are essential for global well-being, providing food, water, shelter, and habitats for over half of all land species. Africa’s forests span about 624 million hectares—20.6% of the continent’s land and 15.6% of the world’s forest cover. However, they are rapidly degrading due to human activities and climate change. In Africa, 65% of productive land is degraded and 45% faces desertification. Uganda has lost over a million hectares of tree cover—nearly a third of its forests—with deforestation occurring at a high rate of 2.6% per year. At this pace, the country could lose all forests by 2050, a crisis that threatens biodiversity, ecosystems, and economic stability. Each year, Africa loses around three million hectares of forest, causing a 3% GDP loss from soil and nutrient depletion. Many of these forests are primary, undisturbed ecosystems vital for carbon sequestration. But logging, agriculture, and development have destroyed or degraded two-thirds of the world's tropical rainforests, leaving the remainder under threat. To ensure a sustainable future for people and the planet, the urgent priority is to protect, restore, and expand biodiverse forests. These forests are critical for carbon storage, pollution reduction, habitat preservation, and long-term socio-economic benefits.