Developing Sustainable Forest Ecosystems in Africa Will Help Boost its Economy
Humanity has long appreciated forests for the energy, food and medicine they provide, and as a source of wood products for construction and other purposes. But the role of forests in supporting agriculture, preserving biodiversity, protecting water supplies, creating jobs, increasing domestic GDP and moderating the impact of climate change are less well understood. It is an industry often crucial to the well-being of people in large parts of Africa.
Angola, for example, has a total forest area of 60 million hectares, representing 20percent of its total land area including a rich variety of flora and fauna. This is combined with relatively stable governance as well as various measures the government has implemented to improve Angola’s forest ecosystem such as creating ties between the Ministry of Agriculture – and the Ministry of Planning, Ministry of Industry and Ministry of Water and Energy. The country’s exotic plantation area is small (0.2 percent of forest area) but with significant potential for the economy.
Located in the Planalto region of Angola, Quantum Global Group, through its $250 million Timber Fund, has acquired 18 land concessions leased from the Government of Angola. The objective is to manage and rehabilitate the old Angolan Government Eucalyptus pulpwood plantations, with an aim to build an integrated forest industry in the provinces of Huambo, Benguela, Huila and Bie to develop the country’s forest ecosystem.
CIFOR