• Africa lost 29.6 million hectares of forest between 2015 and 2025.
• Eastern and Southern Africa account for 53% of the loss.
• Tree-planting and protected forests increased but remain insufficient.

Africa holds 16% of global forest cover, which ranks the continent fourth behind Europe, South America and the region combining North and Central America. The continent continues to record significant forest loss despite restoration efforts.

Africa lost 29.6 million hectares of forest over the last ten years, according to FAO estimates. The UN agency reports in its latest Global Forest Resources Assessment, released in October, that the continent’s forest area decreased from 692.2 million hectares in 2015 to 662.6 million hectares in 2025.

Eastern and Southern Africa account for 53% of the continent’s forest loss. The report identifies Angola, Tanzania and Mozambique as major contributors, with annual losses of 510,000 hectares, 469,000 hectares and 267,000 hectares respectively.

West and Central Africa record 41% of the continent’s deforestation. The Democratic Republic of Congo posts the highest annual reduction in that region at around 283,000 hectares. North Africa contributes only 6.9% of the loss during the period.

FAO links the persistent trend mainly to extensive agriculture and commercial logging — often illegal and poorly regulated — for domestic and industrial wood production. These practices continue to accelerate the disappearance of natural forests.

FAO notes progress in reforestation and better forest management. The report shows that the area of planted forests in Africa rose 16.66% to 14.08 million hectares between 2015 and 2025.

Forests located in protected areas increased 6.47% to 153.7 million hectares. Forests under long-term management plans expanded 28% to 143 million hectares, which represents nearly 22% of Africa’s total forest area.

These trends confirm gradual moves toward more structured governance of forest resources, including restoration, protection and sustainable exploitation.

FAO does not detail the drivers behind the improvements. However, several initiatives have supported reforestation in recent years.

The African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative (AFR100), launched in 2015 under the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and international climate goals, aims to restore 100 million hectares by 2030. The program brings together 34 African countries, including Benin, Togo, Senegal, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Ghana and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It seeks to attract public and private capital into agroforestry and land restoration projects.

The Great Green Wall Initiative, created in 2007 by the African Union, also plays a key role. The program spans more than 8,000 km from Senegal to Djibouti and mobilizes 11 Sahelian countries to restore 100 million hectares of degraded lands by 2030 while supporting inclusive economic growth.

Africa shows stronger commitment to balancing development and sustainability. However, FAO warns that gains remain insufficient to reverse the structural decline of natural forests on the continent.

This article was initially published in French by Stéphanas Assocle

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum