Tackling deforestation in Africa: what challenges for tomorrow ?

Political support is essential for organized action in favor of Africa's forests. However, as you now know, many governments give priority to the financial benefits of the wood, mineral and oil trades. And this, to the detriment of the natural environment.

This is an observation made by many journalists specializing in African issues.

When environmental consequences are taken into account, laws and decrees are enacted.

However, there is often a lack of application of these texts, when they are not simply unsuitable or outdated. As a result, the lack of effective legislation is holding back any efforts that might be made to protect Africa's forests.

Inadequate public policies are not the only obstacle standing in the way of promising initiatives. Corruption among those in power is well documented, notably by Transparency International, a global organization that ranks the countries with the highest levels of corruption.

With over a hundred branches around the world, Transparency International collects indicators and reliable information for its ranking. 

The phenomenon of corruption ranges from "simple" bribes to the misappropriation of public funds.

It can be found at all levels of government. Although not justifiable per se, the causes of corruption are also to be found in the low salaries of civil servants and in the legal loopholes through which the most corrupt are swallowed up.

Apart from the fact that corruption hampers African forestry projects, it also slows down countries' overall development and weakens people's trust in the government. As a result, the informal sector is even more prevalent, further reinforcing inequalities.

Corruption issues thus have an impact on the investments needed to restore the African forest. The situation is further exacerbated by the lack of government funding.

Forest areas have few means of protection and restoration, both in terms of trained agents and material resources. 

The funds raised in accordance with certain legislation are relatively small compared with the resources that would need to be mobilized. 

It would also be necessary to make them accessible to all stakeholders, including local and rural communities, where inclusion is low.

Last but not least, programs need to be coordinated between the different levels of the country (national, regional, local...).

Africa's population continues to grow at an annual rate of around 2.7%. The United Nations estimates that the population of Sub-Saharan Africa is set to double by 2050.

As a result, the need for both living space and agricultural land is also increasing.

Tropical and inter-tropical forest zones are fertile regions for crops, thanks to their climate and the richness of their soil. The pressure on forests is therefore intensifying, to the detriment of natural areas.

Most of the land cleared for agriculture is still planted with cereals, but its ecological potential is far less significant than that of trees.

Moreover, this pressure on living space can lead to land conflicts, resulting in competition for land. Conflicting land claims can thus take the form of privatization of areas that were once, and to everyone's knowledge, common. Legal loopholes relating to property titles can also lead to massive deforestation of forests in order to satisfy the bulk of demands.

The installation of housing in these wooded areas reduces the possibility for populations to maintain a crop of nourishing trees. And yet, these trees have the potential to lead local populations towards a form of food self-sufficiency, and to provide them with a source of income through the sale of surpluses. It's a twofold challenge.