Vast African Forests Store Twice as Much Carbon as Previously Thought
The miombo woodlands that stretch from Mozambique to Angola are a critical CO2 sink for the planet, a new study finds.
The carbon-rich miombo woodlands have shrunk considerably in recent decades.
Photographer: Cynthia R Matonhodze/BloombergA forested expanse of southern Africa could store more than double the amount of carbon dioxide as was previously estimated, according to a study published Wednesday, underscoring the value of protecting it.
Africa’s miombo woodlands — named for a type of tree that’s commonly found in them — stretch from Mozambique in the southeast to Angola in the west. Using data from drones, land-based sensors and helicopters, researchers concluded the forests are far more valuable as carbon sinks than prior studies showed. That means they could hold much greater value for carbon offset projects or debt-for-nature swaps. It also means their destruction releases more carbon into the atmosphere than once known.