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Africa's Wetlands: A New Digital Atlas for Climate Defense
27 Apr
Summary
- A new digital atlas maps Africa's wetlands and their climate mitigation potential.
- Over a third of global wetlands have vanished since the 1970s, thrice faster than forests.
- African Sahel wetlands support 75% of the population and 85% of GDP on 10% of land.
A groundbreaking digital atlas has been compiled, focusing on Africa's vital wetlands and their capacity to mitigate climate change. This effort targets the protection of one of the continent's most imperiled ecosystems. Globally, wetland loss has been alarming, with over a third disappearing since the 1970s at a rate three times faster than forests.
Within Africa's Sahel region, wetlands occupy just 10% of the land but are indispensable. They sustain 75% of the region's population and underpin more than 85% of its Gross Domestic Product. These natural landscapes also serve as critical carbon sinks and provide essential flood protection for surrounding areas.
The newly created atlas is expected to bridge a significant knowledge gap concerning wetlands in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa. This information is crucial for effective conservation strategies and sustainable development in these ecologically sensitive zones.
