Africa's Forests Transition from Carbon Sink to Carbon Source, Threatening Climate Goals
Recent research has revealed a significant shift in Africa's forests, which have transitioned from being carbon sinks to carbon sources. This change, identified by an international study led by scientists from the National Centre for Earth Observation, indicates that deforestation and degradation in tropical rainforests have led to a net loss of forest biomass since 2010. The study utilized satellite data and machine learning to analyze over a decade of forest data, showing that Africa lost approximately 106 billion kilograms of forest biomass annually from 2010 to 2017. The most significant losses occurred in tropical moist broadleaf forests, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, and parts of West Africa. This development poses a challenge to global efforts to combat climate change, as forests play a crucial role in absorbing carbon dioxide. 
