Angola's Forests: How Much Remains?

Angola is a country in southern Africa with a rich and diverse ecosystem. The country boasts an array of flora and fauna, including many endemic species found nowhere else on Earth. Angola's forests are a vital part of its natural landscape and cover a significant portion of its land area. The country's forest cover has been a topic of interest for environmentalists and conservationists, with efforts made to understand and protect this valuable resource. Angola's forests have faced various challenges, including human activities and natural factors, which have impacted their extent and biodiversity.

Angola's forests include tropical rainforests in the north

Angola is the most densely forested country in the Zambezi River Basin, with tropical rainforests in the north. The country's forest area has declined from 63.58% in 1990 to 53.43% in 2020, the lowest in 30 years. This decline is attributed to a combination of factors, including selective logging and other human interventions. Despite this decrease, Angola maintains a relatively low deforestation rate compared to other Basin states, estimated at between 0.1% and 0.2%.

Angola's tropical rainforests are known for their biodiversity and ecological significance. These forests are home to a diverse range of plant and animal species, many of which are unique to the region. The rainforests play a crucial role in regulating the local climate, absorbing carbon dioxide, and providing a habitat for numerous species.

The northern rainforests of Angola are part of the Congo rainforest region, which extends across central Africa. This region is known for its dense and lush rainforest coverage, hosting a wide array of flora and fauna. The Congo rainforest is considered one of the most biodiverse places on Earth, and Angola's northern rainforests contribute significantly to this rich ecosystem.

While Angola's tropical rainforests are predominantly located in the north, the country also boasts other types of forests and woodland areas. These include dry forests, moist woodlands, and forest plantations. The use of forestry plantations has been steadily increasing in Angola, particularly in collaboration with Zimbabwe. These two countries are the main exporters of forestry products in the Basin.

The Ministry of Agriculture in Angola plays a crucial role in managing and conserving the country's forest resources. Despite the lack of a comprehensive forestry inventory since independence in 1975, the ministry estimates a minimum reserve of 17.45 million cubic meters of trees, allowing for sustainable rotational annual cuts.

Angola has a low deforestation rate relative to its forest cover

The country's forest and woodland area declined by 2% between 1990 and 2010, with a total loss of about 2,496,000 hectares or 4.1% over that period. Angola loses about 124,800 hectares or 0.20% of its forest cover per year. Despite this loss, Angola still has a significant amount of forest, including tropical rainforests in the north. The provinces of Cabinda, Cuando Cubango, Moxico, and Uíge have the highest levels of forest exploitation for timber production.

The use of forestry plantations has been steadily increasing in Angola, which has the largest forest plantation area in the Basin, along with Zimbabwe. These two countries are the main exporters of forestry products in the region. Angola's Ministry of Agriculture estimates the minimum reserve at 17.45 million cubic meters of trees, allowing for 20 years of rotational annual cuts.

Angola's 2018 Forest Landscape Integrity Index score was 8.35/10, ranking it 23rd out of 172 countries globally. This score indicates that the country has relatively low deforestation rates compared to other nations.

Angola's forests contain 4,385 million metric tons of carbon in living forest biomass

The total biomass estimated in the Miombo forest was 195.05 Mg ha-1 (55.02 Mg ha-1 radical and 140.04 Mg ha-1 area), with a total wood volume of 78.57 m3 ha-1. This translates to values of 91.67 Mg ha-1 of accumulated carbon and 336.13 Mg ha-1 of CO2 equivalent.

The high biomass accumulation in Angola's Miombo forests implies a high carbon sequestration capacity. The above-ground accumulated carbon in these forests is similar to that found in other Miombo forests in the region. However, the below-ground accumulated carbon is higher than that of other degraded Miombo formations in nearby countries.

Angola's Miombo forests play a crucial role in carbon sequestration and storage, with rates of up to 39.6 MgC ha-1 in above-ground biomass. Sustainable management of these forests is essential to ensure their continued ability to provide ecosystem services and support the rural population's livelihoods.

Angola's forests are threatened by subsistence agriculture

Angola's forests are among the most densely forested in the Zambezi River Basin, with a forest area of 53.43% of its land area as of 2020. The country is home to tropical rainforests in the north and large planted areas of Eucalyptus and Pinus species in the central plateau. While Angola has a relatively low deforestation rate, its forests are threatened by several factors, including subsistence agriculture, overgrazing, and cutting trees for fuelwood.

Subsistence agriculture is a significant threat to Angola's forests, as it provides food for approximately 90% of the population. Small-scale farming and charcoal processing activities contribute to deforestation and forest degradation. The rural population of Angola has a strong connection to the forest, relying on it for income, employment, and food. Many inhabitants collect and trade forest products for monetary income, and the forest is a vital source of employment for almost all the population of rural areas.

In addition to subsistence agriculture, overgrazing and the cutting of trees for fuelwood are also significant contributors to forest clearing and degradation in Angola. The demand for fuelwood and timber has increased, leading to the degradation of forest edges and the penetration of fires into forest interiors. Angola's forests, particularly the Afromontane forests, are highly susceptible to fires, which pose an existential threat to these ecosystems.

The combination of increasing human pressure and drier conditions associated with climate change has made the situation more challenging. The government has made efforts to conserve biodiversity and adhere to international conventions and treaties related to preserving forest resources. However, limited funds and a lack of relevant studies and statistical data on forest products and demand have constrained effective forest management and conservation in Angola.

Overall, Angola's forests are under threat from various factors, including subsistence agriculture, which provides food security for a large portion of the population. Effective conservation strategies and sustainable land management practices are needed to protect the country's valuable forest ecosystems and the livelihoods of those who depend on them.

Angola's woodland is not threatened by clearance for agriculture or logging

Angola is the most densely forested country in the Zambezi River Basin, with tropical rainforests in the north. While some other Basin states have deforestation rates as high as 2.2%, Angola's rate is much lower, at between 0.1% and 0.2%. The country has not conducted a forestry inventory since gaining independence in 1975, but the Ministry of Agriculture estimates the minimum reserve at 17.45 million cubic metres of trees, allowing for 20 years of rotational annual cuts. The use of forestry plantations has been steadily increasing in Angola, which has the largest forest plantation area in the Basin, along with Zimbabwe. These two countries are the main exporters of forestry products in the region.

Despite this positive picture, the area of land under forest and woodland in Angola declined by two per cent between 1990 and 2010. However, this decrease is not due to clearance for agriculture or logging. Angola's woodland is vulnerable to fire, as the area is dry for most of the year. The intense and long-lasting Angolan Civil War, which lasted from 1975 to 2002, also caused immense damage to the environment, leaving forests exposed to poaching and uncontrolled clearance. The conflict also prevented the proper study of the region by scientists.

However, the population of the region is kept to a minimum due to factors such as sandy soil, which does not sustain agriculture, and the presence of tsetse flies in the woods and grassland. Some forest is being cleared on the edge of towns or for strip-mining. Overall, Angola's woodland is not threatened by clearance for agriculture or logging.

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