Introduction

In our current epoch of global biodiversity loss and climate crisis, the well-being of our forests matters more than ever.  Although the Congo Basin- dubbed the “lungs of Africa” – is still the world’s second largest terrestrial carbon sink, it is under mounting pressure. Since Africa has the highest rate of forest loss in the world as a result of capitalist exploitation of nature, caring for our forests is imperative to combat global warming.

Forests as Heritage

Departing from a Western colonial imagining of forests as separate from human culture and civilization, this article frames our forests as unique biodiversity hubs as well as an invaluable cultural heritage. Africa’s forests are home to indigenous peoples and to a wide variety of indigenous animal and plant species. The ancestral inhabitants of the Congo Basin rainforest comprise the BaAka, BaKa, BaMbuti, Efe, and other Indigenous peoples whose inherited culture and quotidian livelihood are intimately intertwined with nature and depend on the forest’s continuity. The tropical rainforest also hosts a distinctive set of endangered creatures, such as forest elephants, okapis, and bonobos. Once gone, these animal species are forever wiped off the face of the earth. Conserving our forests is therefore crucial, as it helps preserve our unique natural and cultural heritage.

Main Causes of Deforestation

The two main drivers of deforestation in Africa are agricultural production and commercial logging. Large expanses of forests in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Cameroon have been razed to meet the global demand for cocoa. The capitalist timber exploitation is also rampant in Africa. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, most of the commercial logging is illegal. Accordingly, saving Africa’s forests requires the stringent regulation and implementation of forest conservation laws.

Conclusion

Above all, forest conservation in Africa should be primarily community and indigenous-led, coupled with a legal recognition of the indigenous peoples’ rights to land custodianship. Unlike the colonial Western understanding of forest conservation that separates nature from humans, an indigenous-led conservation prioritizes the well-being and continuity of the relationships amongst humans, plants, and animals. Since the kinship relations between indigenous peoples and their forests are spiritually-grounded and sacred, no one can appreciate and protect Africa’s forests better than our indigenous communities.