Tree commodities for Green economies in Africa
Tree commodities have been Africa’s fastest-growing land use for the last 30 years, impacting the livelihoods of over 200 million people directly and over 500 million indirectly, and contributing 15-19% of the continent’s GDP. They also contribute to poverty reduction, biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and improved food and nutrition. However, the development of tree commodities in Africa has been associated with deforestation and the loss of natural forests and low value addition, with the continent capturing less than 10% of the global value chain.
This has been exacerbated by price fluctuations in the global market, poor governance and low returns to farmers. Two of Africa’s main commodities are cashew and wood. While 59% of global cashew nuts are produced in Africa, 98% are exported as unshelled and raw cashew. On the other hand, Africa harbors valuable forest resources but imports around USD 4 billion worth of timber products annually. The continent imports three-quarters of the roughly 100 million m³/year of wood it consumes each year, Moreover, three-quarters of its own wood production is derived from natural forests.
This session brings together experts in the cashew and wood sectors to discuss prospects for the two commodities. It will then open up the discussion to include a continental look at financial flows, a multi-stakeholder approach to tree commodities, and policy and institutional frameworks guiding tree commodities in Africa, and then pave the way for a Q&A with the audience.
Related Knowledge Products:
Jane Mutune
Priscilla Wainaina
Marie-Louise Avana-Tientcheu
