Importance of governance in saving Africa's forests

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OPINION

By Christopher Burke

Africa’s forests are among the most bio diverse ecosystems on Earth and vital for regulating climate, maintaining water cycles and supporting local economies. These forests face serious threats from deforestation, land degradation and unsustainable land use practices.

Effective land governance is crucial to address these challenges and ensure the preservation of Africa’s forests. The effective implementation of clear land tenure systems, promotion of sustainable land use practices and leveraging innovative digital technologies are powerful tools in forest conservation across the continent.

Land tenure security is the cornerstone of successful forest conservation efforts.  Prominent Kenyan based land tenure expert Liz Alden Wily agrees that when tenure is insecure, landholders will prioritize the short-term exploitation of forest resources such as logging or land conversion over long-term conservation. Absence of tenure also promotes elite capture and misuse of valuable resources within communities and misuse, she says. 

In contrast, landholders are more likely to engage in practices that preserve and protect forests when land tenure is secure attests, Cathy Watson, Senior Advisor at Center for International Forestry Research CIFOR - World Agroforestry ICRAF.

The lack of registered land poses a significant challenge to forest conservation. Only 20 to 30 percent of land formally registered across the continent. 

Many landholders lack the legal recognition needed to defend their rights against encroachment or illegal exploitation.  Countries such as Rwanda, Ethiopia and Uganda have made significant progress in land tenure reforms critical to forest preservation.

Rwanda’s Land Tenure Regularization Program has registered 11.7 million parcels of land confirmed Senior Land Administration Specialist at World Bank, Didier Sagashya. 

Bulcha Kuma at the National Integrated Land Use Planning and Policy Development Project Office within the Ethiopian Government Ministry of Planning and Development affirms land certification programs have significantly improved tenure security for millions of smallholder farmers across the country. Registration provides legal protection to landholders and encouraging investments in sustainable forest management.

The registration of customary land rights supported by digital technologies is ongoing and instrumental in reducing land-related conflicts that often lead to deforestation. 

Coordinator Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Mapping Edward Ssenyonjo at the Ugandan National Forestry Authority (NFA) has been leading efforts with USAID support to consolidate data and geo-spatial information on government forests across Uganda.

The recently established Uganda National Land Information System (UgNLIS) has digitized statutory land records, making it easier to enforce land tenure and protect forests from illegal activities. 

Efforts have been initiated to integrate the information on government forests with the UgNLIS explained Issa Katwesige, Assistant Commissioner, Forestry Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE).  Securing land rights, empowers communities to engage in conservation efforts confident that their land—and the forests on them—are protected from illegal encroachment and exploitation.

The integration of digital technologies into land governance will revolutionize the ability to monitor and manage forests effectively. Tools such as GIS, blockchain and remote sensing are already playing critical roles in preserving Africa’s forests.  Remote sensing allows for real-time monitoring of deforestation enabling rapid response to illegal logging and other activities that threaten forests.

The Congo Basin hosts the world’s second-largest tropical forest and is a key area where such technologies are making a significant impact. Covering 500 million acres across six countries, the Basin faces constant threats from illegal logging and land conversion. 

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is currently preparing to pilot the management and protection of Intact Forest Landscapes in the Congo Basin. The initial stage comprising landscape identification will also make use of GIS and satellite imagery according to Patrick Epie, Coordinator Congo Basin and West Africa with FSC.

Land related conflict is a major driver of deforestation in Africa. Exacerbated by population pressures and competition for resources, such conflict can lead to violence, displacement and the unchecked exploitation of forested areas. Effective land governance can mitigate these conflicts by establishing clear legal frameworks and dispute resolution mechanisms that protect forests.

In many parts of Africa, land is managed under customary systems that vary significantly from region to region. While these systems provide social cohesion and a strong sense of identity; they can also result in exclusionary practices, particularly against women and marginalized groups, leading to conflicts that threaten forests. To protect these forests, it is essential to bridge the gap between customary and formal land tenure systems.

Uganda has successfully integrated customary land tenure into its formal legal system providing legal protection to communities and reducing conflicts that could otherwise lead to deforestation.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is providing support to the Cadasta Foundation and COLANDEF Land and Property Rights in Ghana to secure the land rights of smallholder farmers within forest fringe communities to safeguard against forest exploitation and land encroachment. 

COLANDEF’s Founder and Executive Director Nana Ama Yirrah explained that over 50,000 hectares are currently being mapped and the land rights of approximately 10,000 agricultural land users is being documented in five communities in the Obogu Traditional Area in the Ashanti Region.

The European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is another important tool.  From the beginning of next year, companies importing commodities into the EU will be required to ensure the products are not linked to deforestation.

This regulation places pressure on countries around the world, including Africa, to enforce land governance practices that prevent deforestation aligning local conservation efforts with global trade requirements, submits Rico Pratama Putra, an expert advisor on the EUDR Policy for Indonesia in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Sustainable land use practices are critical to preserve Africa’s forests. When landholders have secure tenure, they are more likely to invest in sustainable practices such as agroforestry, reforestation and conservation agriculture that can contribute to the protection of forested areas.

This security has encouraged farmers to adopt sustainable land management practices, reducing the pressure to clear forests for agricultural expansion. By promoting such practices, land governance plays a vital role in maintaining the health and integrity of Africa’s forests.

Land governance also facilitates access to climate finance that is essential for scaling up forest conservation efforts. Initiatives such as the Kasigau Corridor REDD+ project in Kenya illustrate how aligning economic incentives with environmental goals can provide to protect forests. 

This project funds forest conservation by selling carbon credits, providing a sustainable income for local communities while preserving large tracts of forested land explains Simon Bird, Director of Forest Science at Wildlife Works Carbon.

The Great Green Wall initiative that aims to restore 100 million hectares of degraded land across more than 20 African countries is another example of how effective land governance supports forest preservation submits Tabi Joda based in Chad who is the Team Lead for One Billion Trees for Africa and Ambassador of the Great Green Wall Initiative. 

By securing land tenure and integrating local communities into conservation efforts, this initiative helps to prevent deforestation and promote reforestation on a massive scale.

Land governance is a critical element in the preservation of Africa’s forests. By securing land tenure, integrating digital technologies, addressing land conflicts and promoting sustainable land use, African nations can protect their forests and the vital ecosystems they support.

As the continent faces increasing pressures associated with climate change, population growth and global trade regulations such as the EUDR, strengthening land governance will be essential to ensure Africa’s forests continue to thrive for future generations. With continued investment in land tenure reforms and the adoption of innovative technologies, Africa has the potential to lead the way in forest conservation and climate resilience.

The writer is a senior adviser at WMC Africa, a communications and advisory agency located in Kampala, Uganda