Nairobi congress calls for coordinated action to safeguard Africa’s forests
Leaders, environmental experts, activists and private sector representatives met in Nairobi from 10 to 12 February for the Zámba Heritage Initiative Congress, urging continent‑wide collaboration to protect Africa’s forests amid pressures from logging, mining, agriculture and infrastructure development. Discussions focused on how to balance economic growth with conservation, underscoring forests’ role in absorbing carbon dioxide, preserving biodiversity and sustaining livelihoods.
Delegates proposed strengthening regional cooperation, investing in modern monitoring technologies, harmonising cross‑border policies and mobilising long‑term finance for restoration. Speakers highlighted the need to involve youth and indigenous or forest‑adjacent communities in decision‑making, while citing challenges to carbon projects in countries such as Zambia and the DRC, including land tenure disputes and limited technical capacity. Participants stressed that protecting forests is essential for climate resilience, wildlife habitats and nature‑based tourism across Africa.
Source: Zawya
