A forest the size of Mexico could store twice as much carbon as was thought

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🗞️ Driving the news: A new study reveals that Africa’s Miombo woodlands store twice as much carbon as previously estimated—around 3.7 billion metric tons more than earlier calculations
• This makes the economic and environmental value of conserving the forest even greater
• As a result, financial incentives for protecting and restoring the Miombo have doubled

🔭 The context: Covering 1.9 million square kilometers across eight African countries, the Miombo is the world’s largest dry tropical forest ecosystem
• It supports over 300 million people and provides a habitat for iconic African wildlife, including half of Africa’s remaining elephants
• Despite its importance, the forest lost nearly a third of its cover between 1980 and 2020

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: With this new research, the Miombo’s role in climate mitigation is even greater than thought, making it a crucial carbon sink
• The findings strengthen arguments for forest restoration under carbon credit programs outlined in the Paris Agreement
• However, critics warn that carbon offset markets can act as mere pollution permits rather than actual emissions reductions

⏭️ What's next: The Miombo Restoration Alliance, launched in 2024, is driving conservation efforts across 11 African nations, backed by a $500 million investment from global trader Trafigura
• The Alliance’s first pilot project in Mozambique is studying how local communities can participate in sustainable land use
• The success of such initiatives will determine whether this becomes the largest nature-based carbon removal program in the world

💬 One quote: “If you double the amount of carbon that’s stored across these woodlands… you’ve essentially doubled their dollar value overnight.” — Professor Mathias Disney, University College London

📈 One stat: The Miombo woodland stores an extra 3.7 billion metric tons of carbon—more than China’s total emissions in 2023

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