The island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe (STP) is home to some of the richest and most diverse forest ecosystems in Africa. The islands’ fast-growing human population has had a significant impact on the native forests, which are largely restricted to some remote valleys and inaccessible mountain areas. Higher and increasingly competing demands for food, energy and space are accelerating the degradation of natural resources and ecosystems, which reduces their resilience to climate change.

Approximately one–third of the forests have been converted into shade plantations and agro-forestry systems that produce mostly coffee and cocoa, the country’s key export crops. STP faces the typical handicaps of a small island economy: high vulnerability to external shocks, the inability to pursue economies of scale, lack of basic infrastructure and services, low human capacity, and a weak private sector.

One of the greatest environmental threats is the over-exploitation of forest resources. Fuelwood consumption is very high, and wood is still the main commodity used in the local house construction sector. The deforestation of steep mountain slopes to plant crops and meet the national food demand is increasing the incidence of erosion and further degrading the forest.

The government of STP has identified forest and landscape restoration (FLR) as a strategic priority for the coming years, together with the fight against illegal tree harvesting, and the need to spread awareness-raising measures. Two natural parks were created in 2006, extending to both islands and including all types of terrestrial ecosystems. Unfortunately, the lack of financial resources  is a serious drawback to the effective functioning of the protected areas.