Advancing evidence & governance in African forestry
The African Forest Forum (AFF) is an association of individuals with a commitment to the sustainable management, wise use, and conservation of Africa's forest and tree resources for the socio-economic well-being of its peoples and for the stability and improvement of its environment.
424M ha
Natural Forests in Africa
3,400+
Active Network Members
44.8B t
Carbon Stored in Trees
54 Nations
Continental Engagement
Our Guiding Mandate
AFF provides independent analysis and advice to national, regional, and international institutions and actors on how economic, food security, and environmental issues can be addressed through the sustainable management of forests and trees.
Our Mission
Empowering Livelihoods
To contribute to the improvement of the livelihoods of the people of Africa and the environment they live in through the sustainable management and use of tree and forest resources on the African continent.
Our Vision
United Stakeholders
The leading forum that unites all stakeholders in African forestry.
Our Goal
Mobilize a Common Voice
To galvanise a common African voice and opinion, and mobilise resources that are required to address forestry and related issues that cut across countries and regions, with the aim of enhancing the relevance and contribution of forestry and trees to the people of Africa and their environment.
The Purpose
The purpose of the AFF is to provide a platform for information sharing and expertise and create an enabling environment for independent and objective analysis, advocacy, and advice on relevant policy and technical issues pertaining to achieving sustainable management, use, and conservation of Africa's forest and tree resources as part of efforts to reduce poverty, promote economic and social development, and protect the environment.
"Why we exist: To voice the concerns of African forestry stakeholders and use science, indigenous knowledge, and experience to advocate for forests and trees."— African Forest Forum
Stakeholder Networking
Build and strengthen networking among the many and varied stakeholders in forestry in Africa.
Resource Mobilization & Programs
Develop, solicit funding for, and implement specific programs, projects, and activities that address already identified priority issues and opportunities in African forestry.
Profile Elevation & Threat Advocacy
Raise the profile of forestry, highlight threats to forest resources and the environment, and champion better management of African forests.
Institutional & Governance Development
Undertake an institutional organizational development of AFF, including its Secretariat and governance structures.
African Forests Matter
Forests are critical to human, animal, and plant survival on this planet. Yet we routinely take their everyday benefits for granted — the air we breathe, the water we drink, the rain for our crops, pollinators for our food, and the gas that many of us cook with all rely on trees.
Africa is very rich in forest resources and other forms of tree cover. The 2020 Global Forest Resources Assessment Report prepared by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reports that Africa has 424 million hectares under forest, about 14% of the global total area and 23% of the land area of the continent. Further, Africa has 44.8 billion tonnes as carbon stock in live biomass, representing 12% of the global share in trees.
Combining the forests and other wooded land gives Africa a tree cover almost the size of Europe, and this does not include agroforestry and urban trees. This is the tree cover that allows for the continent to contribute to the global community to sequester more carbon inside trees.
Forests and Woodlands (Tropical Moist)
Cover vast areas of Africa, representing a substantial percentage of global forest cover. Tropical rainforests occur in central and parts of West Africa, as well as islands. In western Africa and dry inland areas, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Angola, Zambia, and Mozambique contain the majority of African forest areas.
Trade & Value Chains
Africa's share of the global value of wood exports remains significantly lower than its potential. Firewood and charcoal are by far the most widely traded component of wood production. However, primary forest products like logs, sawn timber, wood-based panels, and an enormous variety of non-wood products (medicines, wild fruits, fodder, honey) originate from various forest types, driving interaction between the formal and informal wood industry.
Primary & Informal Employment
More than half a million people in Africa are involved in the primary production of goods in forests. Employment varies considerably, and there is a scarcity of information on this as a larger proportion of wood production and processing takes place in the informal sector and has not been adequately studied.
Deforestation & Sector Challenges
Deforestation and degradation are occurring at alarming rates, mainly caused by conversion of forest land into agriculture and unsustainable exploitation of wood for fuel and timber. The problems afflicting the sector derive partly from how national and sub-regional institutions have had limited influence on policy and investment in other sectors like agriculture and mining, leaving underlying drivers unaddressed in a systematic manner.
For Whom is AFF?
The potential beneficiaries of the activities and advisory outputs of the African Forest Forum include eight primary stakeholder categories:
Policy & Decision Makers
National, regional, and international policy- and decision-makers shaping legislation.
Farmers & Rural Communities
Smallholders and local communities dependent on forest landscapes for livelihoods.
Private Industry & Trade
Commercial timber producers, processors, and forest product business operators.
Research & Education
Academic institutions, forestry schools, scientists, and university faculties.
Consumers of Tree Products
End users of timber, firewood, charcoal, medicines, and non-timber forest products.
Government Institutions
National forest services, wildlife authorities, and natural resource ministries.
NGOs & Civil Society
Organizations dedicated to environmental stability, human rights, and social justice.
Individuals & General Public
Citizens, youth groups, and pan-African stakeholders passionate about conservation.
How We Work
AFF is a key continental platform for all forestry stakeholders. It is governed by a Members' Forum, the Governing Council, the Executive Committee, and representation from the key regions of the forum.
Committees of the Governing Council
- The Executive Committee — Providing ongoing operational and governance oversight.
- The Technical Support Team (TST) — Guidance on the technical and scientific work of forestry.
- Working Group on Climate Change — Directing policy positions on African climate resilience.
- Task Force on Resources Mobilisation — Securing grant funding and partnerships.
- The Information Committee — Coordinating outreach and knowledge dissemination.
Governing Council & Secretariat
Distinguished pan-African scientists and institutional leaders guiding the strategic policies of the Forum.
Labode Popoola
Executive Secretary — CEO, AFF (Ex-Officio) NigeriaIbro Adamou
Council Member NigerAlima Issufo Taquidir
Council Member MozambiqueJean Nduwamungu
Council Member RwandaSuzana Augustino
Chairperson of the AFF Members Forum TanzaniaPeter A Minang
Director, Africa CIFOR-ICRAF CameroonLarwanou Mahamane
Chair, AFF Governing Council NigerSheam Satkuru
Executive Director, ITTO Malaysia / InternationalNtungwe Ngalame
Council Member CameroonWubalem Tadesse
Research Project Coordinator — CIFOR-ICRAF EthiopiaOluwaseyi Adewale Olawuyi
Council Member NigeriaCécile Ndjebet
REFACOF President and Founder CameroonKwame Asamoah Adam
Council Member GhanaDaniel A. Ofori
Council Member GhanaCorporate Documents
Official promotional materials, guiding strategies, constitutional frameworks, and project completion reports.
Our Roots
The journey from exploratory consultative forums to an international non-governmental organization.
2005–2006: Inception & Consultations
African forestry leaders recognized the urgent need for a common continental platform to champion forestry issues and provide impartial scientific guidance to governments and international institutions.
2007: Formal Incorporation in Nairobi
The African Forest Forum is formally registered in Nairobi, Kenya as an international not-for-profit NGO. The Secretariat is established on the campus of the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF).
2011–2020: Programmatic Expansion
AFF establishes long-term programmatic pillars encompassing climate change (REDD+), timber value chains, agroforestry marketing, and youth green entrepreneurship.
Present: Pan-African Impact
Uniting thousands of professionals across all African sub-regions to safeguard natural ecosystems and ensure trees contribute directly to national socio-economic growth.