Shaping greener African cities at the 2nd African Forum on Urban Forests

The 2nd African Forum on Urban Forests (AFUF) has opened in Johannesburg, under the theme: “Green Horizons: Shaping the Future Resilience of African cities through Urban Forests”.

Organised by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the City of Johannesburg, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), and the Centre on African Public Spaces, over the next four days AFUF will explore how urban forests and green spaces can be integrated in city planning and development while promoting a sustainable future for Africa’s urban dwellers.

Africa is undergoing the fastest urban transition the world has experienced to date and it is estimated that an additional 950 million people will live in the region’s cities by 2050.

Building upon the success of the 1st African Forum on Urban Forests (2021) and the outcomes of the 2nd World Forum on Urban Forests (2023), delegates are convening to assess the progress of urban forestry initiatives across the African continent and chart the path for future advancements. 

“Urban forests can help future-proof African cities and it is crucial that we address urbanization challenges through the integration of urban and peri-urban forestry, agriculture and a sustainable bioeconomy into the fabric of urban African life,” said Tina Vahanen, Deputy Director of FAO’s Forestry Division.

Climate, equitable access, and sustainable business

Three critical areas of urban forestry will be on the agenda: Climate-proofing African Cities, which positions urban forests as an essential tool in climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies; Equitable Access, Health, and Wellbeing, which highlights the pivotal role urban forestry plays in enhancing public health and wellbeing; and Making the Business Case for Urban Forests, which focuses on the need for sustainable financing and investment to unlock the potential of urban forestry.

Additionally, AFUF will focus on themes of gender, youth, governance, and peace, recognizing their essential roles in achieving sustainable urban forestry.  

AFUF will include a tribute event to recognize Wangari Maathai, the Kenyan environmentalist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate renowned for her Green Belt Movement. Additionally, tree planting activities, a green careers expo and field visits are planned.

Among the concrete outcomes expected from AFUF are the establishment of an African Nature-Based Solutions Network to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange, policy recommendations with actionable targets, and capacity building for the next generation of African leaders who will oversee the greening of the continent’s urban and peri-urban areas.

AFUF is focussed too on fostering commitments in terms of public and private investments to stimulate innovation and mobilize resources to reverse urban forest depletion and green space loss in African cities.

Benefits of greener African cities

The speed of urban growth in Africa puts into urgent focus the need for cities to adopt systems to adapt to, prepare for and respond to related economic, social and environmental shocks. 

Urban forests are increasingly recognized for their critical role in advancing sustainable development goals and can help enhance African cities’ resilience to climate change, population growth and pandemics.

Urban forests and trees regulate local climates by mitigating the urban heat island effect, improve air quality and support biodiversity, as well as contribute to food security. They are also proven to enhance public health and mental wellbeing, all of which contribute to lower healthcare costs.

The FAO Strategic Framework 2022-2031 organises FAO’s work into four areas: Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment and a Better Life. Support for AFUF falls under our work for a better environment and is aligned with the FAO Green Cities Initiative.