African Mountains of Carbon: Unveiling the Hidden Carbon Stock

Africa's tropical montane forests, often shrouded in mist and mystery, have long been recognized as biodiversity hotspots. But new research reveals a hidden treasure: these forests hold far more carbon than previously estimated, playing a crucial role in combating climate change. Let's delve into these high-altitude ecosystems and uncover the secrets they hold.
Montane Forests: Islands in the Sky
Tropical montane forests, found in high-altitude regions of the tropics, are unique and fragile ecosystems. They are home to a rich array of biodiversity, provide essential ecosystem services such as water regulation and carbon sequestration, and support the livelihoods of millions of people. However, these forests are increasingly threatened by climate change and human activities, leading to degradation and deforestation.
Unmasking the Carbon Giants
Despite their importance, our understanding of carbon storage in tropical montane forests, especially in Africa, has been limited. Previous estimates, like those from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), have likely underestimated the carbon stocks in these forests. This is where the groundbreaking research of Cuni-Sanchez et al. (2021) comes in.
A Pan-African Forest Quest
In their study, Cuni-Sanchez and colleagues embarked on a comprehensive survey of African montane forests, collecting data from 44 sites across 12 countries. They meticulously measured the diameter and identified the species of every tree larger than 10 cm in diameter within these plots. This impressive dataset, named AfriMont, allowed them to estimate the aboveground carbon stock of these forests with unprecedented accuracy. The AfriMont data is part of the forestplots.NET helping to measure, monitor, and analyze the world's tropical forests.
Africa's Montane Carbon Surprise
The results were striking. The study found that the average carbon stock in African montane forests is 149.4 megagrams of carbon per hectare, significantly higher than the IPCC default value. This discovery highlights the critical role these forests play in mitigating climate change.

Key insights from figure 1
This figure provides a visual comparison of aboveground carbon (AGC) stocks in different types of tropical forests across the globe. It highlights the remarkable carbon storage capacity of African montane forests compared to other regions.
African Montane Forests Stand Out: The data shows that African montane forests have, on average, higher AGC stocks than montane forests in the Neotropics and Southeast Asia. This suggests that these African forests play a particularly important role in carbon sequestration.
Comparable to Lowland Forests: The AGC stocks in African montane forests are comparable to those in African lowland forests, which are known for their high carbon storage. This challenges the common assumption that montane forests store less carbon than lowland forests.
Regional Differences: The figure also reveals regional differences in AGC stocks. Neotropical montane forests have the lowest AGC stocks, while Southeast Asian montane forests fall somewhere in between.
Relevance to the Blog: This figure supports the blog's key message by visually demonstrating the exceptional carbon storage capacity of African montane forests. It emphasizes their importance in global carbon sequestration efforts and highlights the need for their conservation.
Why are African Montane Forests so Carbon-Rich?
Several factors contribute to the high carbon stocks in African montane forests:
Lowland Forest Legacy: These forests share structural similarities with African lowland forests, such as low stem density and a high abundance of large trees, which are key for carbon storage.
Disturbance Dynamics: A history of relatively low disturbance, such as cyclones and landslides, may have allowed trees to grow large and accumulate carbon over time.
Unique Adaptations: The unique environmental conditions of montane forests may have favored tree species adapted to slow growth and long lifespans, further contributing to carbon accumulation.
Protecting Our Carbon Guardians
The findings of Cuni-Sanchez et al. (2021) have significant implications for conservation efforts. Recognizing the carbon storage potential of African montane forests is crucial for:
Climate Change Mitigation: Protecting and restoring these forests can contribute to carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation efforts.
Water Resource Management: Montane forests act as "water towers", regulating water flow for millions of people.
Biodiversity Conservation: These forests harbor unique and threatened species, making their conservation a priority.
The research by Cuni-Sanchez et al. (2021) provides a critical update on the carbon storage capacity of African montane forests. By understanding and valuing these often-overlooked ecosystems, we can better protect them and the vital services they provide.
Reference
Cuni-Sanchez, A., Sullivan, M. J. P., Platts, P. J., Lewis, S. L., Marchant, R., Imani, G., Hubau, W., Abiem, I., Adhikari, H., Albrecht, T., Altman, J., Amani, C., Aneseyee, A. B., Avitabile, V., Banin, L., Batumike, R., Bauters, M., Beeckman, H., Begne, S. K., Bennett, A. C., Bitariho, R., Boeckx, P., Bogaert, J., Bräuning, A., Bulonvu, F., Burgess, N. D., Calders, K., Chapman, C., Chapman, H., Comiskey, J., de Haulleville, T., Decuyper, M., DeVries, B., Dolezal, J., Droissart, V., Ewango, C., Feyera, S., Gebrekirstos, A., Gereau, R., Gilpin, M., Hakizimana, D., Hall, J., Hamilton, A., Hardy, O., Hart, T., Heiskanen, J., Hemp, A., Herold, M., Hiltner, U., Horak, D., Kamdem, M.-N., Kayijamahe, C., Kenfack, D., Kinyanjui, M. J., Klein, J., Lisingo, J., Lovett, J., Lung, M., Makana, J.-R., Malhi, Y., Marshall, A. R., Martin, E. H., Mitchard, E. T. A., Morel, A., Mukendi, J. T., Muller, T., Nchu, F., Nyirambangutse, B., Okello, J., Peh, K. S.-H., Pellikka, P. K. E., Phillips, O. L., Plumptre, A. J., Qie, L., Rovero, F., Sainge, M. N., Schmitt, C. B., Sedlacek, O., Ngute, A. S. K., Sheil, D., Sheleme, D., Simegn, T. Y., Simo-Droissart, M., Sonké, B., Soromessa, T., Sunderland, T., Svoboda, M., Taedoumg, H., Taplin, J., Taylor, D., Thomas, S. C., Timberlake, J., Tuagben, D., Umunay, P., Uzabaho, E., Verbeeck, H., Vleminckx, J., Wallin, G., Wheeler, C., Willcock, S., Woods, J. T., & Zibera, E. (2021). High aboveground carbon stock of African tropical montane forests. Nature, 596(7871), 536–542. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03728-4
