Congo Basin loss could trigger water wars across Africa, warns former Gabon minister Lee White
Climate change could trigger water conflicts across much of Africa unless the continent protects the Congo Basin rainforest, warns former Gabonese environment minister Professor Lee White. He describes the forest as Africa’s "pumping heart", sending moisture through atmospheric rivers that sustain agriculture from the Sahel to the Ethiopian Highlands.
White has spent more than three decades working to protect Gabon’s forests and wildlife, from helping create a national parks network to confronting illegal logging and wildlife crocimes. As a scientist, conservationist and former minister, he has argued that forests must be valued as economic and ecological assets, with local communities benefiting from their sustainable use.
The Congo Basin plays a vital role in Africa’s rainfall and water cycles, but forest loss, agricultural expansion and weak environmental governance threaten the region. White also criticises global carbon markets, arguing that Africa’s forest conservation has not received the funding and international support promised.
His call is for greater investment in research, more effective forest protection and a more equitable approach to conservation. Without action, White warns, the consequences could reach far beyond the Congo Basin, affecting water security, food production and stability across the continent.
Originally Published by Daily Maverick
