NAIROBI, Kenya – A new report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) reveals that forests can absorb up to 50 million tonnes of methane annually, positioning them as unsung heroes in the fight against climate change.
This revelation is featured in the report Raising Ambition: Accelerating Action Towards Enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions for Forests, which highlights the urgent need to protect and restore global forest ecosystems.
“Intact forests are extraordinary resources whose role in supporting flourishing economies and societies is often overlooked. They regulate water supply, store carbon, and support biodiversity,” the report emphasizes.
Despite their immense value, deforestation continues at alarming rates, threatening both human and environmental stability.
For over a decade, global leaders have made repeated promises to curb deforestation. Yet, progress remains slow, and the 2030 goal to halt deforestation is far from guaranteed.
Failure to achieve this target could unleash catastrophic consequences for the planet and its ecosystems.
The UNEP report stresses that restoring forests is not just about carbon sequestration but also about the long-term health of the global climate.
Deforestation releases stored carbon into the atmosphere, and reforestation efforts take decades to restore this balance.
The report urges immediate action, highlighting that mitigating climate change will be nearly impossible without addressing deforestation.
Kenya, like many countries, faces the dual challenge of economic growth and environmental sustainability.
Greenhouse gas emissions in Kenya have risen sharply, from 56.8 million metric tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 1995 to 93.7 million in 2015.
This increase is largely driven by agriculture, forestry changes, and the energy sector.
Projections suggest that Kenya’s emissions will reach 143 million metric tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2030.
Despite this, the country has shown leadership in addressing climate change, having ratified the Paris Agreement in 2016.
Kenya has committed to reducing emissions by 32% by 2030 through its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
Kenya’s forests are central to this strategy. With 5.2 million hectares of forest cover—8.83% of the country’s land area—Kenya has pledged to plant 15 billion trees by 2032, aiming to boost forest cover and reduce emissions.
Forests currently help mitigate emissions from agriculture and other sectors, but deforestation and land-use changes remain significant contributors to the country’s environmental challenges.
The country’s ambitious afforestation and reforestation plans are integral to curbing deforestation.
The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) manages 6.4 million acres of gazetted forests, and with growing urban and agricultural pressures, the agency continues to fight land encroachment.
As the clock ticks toward 2030, global and national efforts must scale rapidly to preserve forests, harness their natural carbon absorption potential, and build resilience against climate threats.
Forests, long seen as passive resources, are now understood as active participants in climate mitigation.
This revelation is featured in the report Raising Ambition: Accelerating Action Towards Enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions for Forests, which highlights the urgent need to protect and restore global forest ecosystems.
“Intact forests are extraordinary resources whose role in supporting flourishing economies and societies is often overlooked. They regulate water supply, store carbon, and support biodiversity,” the report emphasizes.
Despite their immense value, deforestation continues at alarming rates, threatening both human and environmental stability.
For over a decade, global leaders have made repeated promises to curb deforestation. Yet, progress remains slow, and the 2030 goal to halt deforestation is far from guaranteed.
Failure to achieve this target could unleash catastrophic consequences for the planet and its ecosystems.
The UNEP report stresses that restoring forests is not just about carbon sequestration but also about the long-term health of the global climate.
Deforestation releases stored carbon into the atmosphere, and reforestation efforts take decades to restore this balance.
The report urges immediate action, highlighting that mitigating climate change will be nearly impossible without addressing deforestation.
Kenya, like many countries, faces the dual challenge of economic growth and environmental sustainability.
Greenhouse gas emissions in Kenya have risen sharply, from 56.8 million metric tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 1995 to 93.7 million in 2015.
This increase is largely driven by agriculture, forestry changes, and the energy sector.
Projections suggest that Kenya’s emissions will reach 143 million metric tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2030.
Despite this, the country has shown leadership in addressing climate change, having ratified the Paris Agreement in 2016.
Kenya has committed to reducing emissions by 32% by 2030 through its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
Kenya’s forests are central to this strategy. With 5.2 million hectares of forest cover—8.83% of the country’s land area—Kenya has pledged to plant 15 billion trees by 2032, aiming to boost forest cover and reduce emissions.
Forests currently help mitigate emissions from agriculture and other sectors, but deforestation and land-use changes remain significant contributors to the country’s environmental challenges.
The country’s ambitious afforestation and reforestation plans are integral to curbing deforestation.
The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) manages 6.4 million acres of gazetted forests, and with growing urban and agricultural pressures, the agency continues to fight land encroachment.
As the clock ticks toward 2030, global and national efforts must scale rapidly to preserve forests, harness their natural carbon absorption potential, and build resilience against climate threats.
Forests, long seen as passive resources, are now understood as active participants in climate mitigation.
