African Destinations Tackle Climate Change with Reforestation and Ecotourism

Ecotourism in Africa

Frankfurt a. M., October 14, 2024. African destinations are proving that tourism and conservation can go hand in hand, even in the fight against climate change.

The African continent is home to about 15% of the world’s remaining forests, second only to South America, which absorb CO₂ from the atmosphere.* The Congo Basin’s rainforests alone store up to 8% of global carbon.

However, nearly 10 million hectares of African forests are cut down annually for wood, farmland, and housing. Numerous reforestation projects show how sustainable tourism can help regenerate these ecosystems, protect biodiversity, and empower local communities.

Ecotourism in Kenya’s Forests

An example is the Kajulu Forest Project in Kenya, part of the „One Tourist, One Tree“ initiative. A collaboration between Kenya’s government and Kisumu’s community, it aims to plant 15 billion trees by 2032 while promoting sustainable tourism activities such as hiking, zip-lining, mountain biking, and bird watching.

The Kajulu Forest could become a hub for Kenya’s emerging western tourism region. These efforts encourage tourists to explore less-visited areas and avoid over-tourism in famous spots like Masai Mara, benefiting local economies.

Ecotourism in Africa not only creates new income opportunities but also raises awareness of conservation. “Such projects show the importance of managing natural resources sustainably, using tourism as a driver for both ecological and economic development,” says Hanna Kleber of Voice4Africa.

Restoration of the Katanino Forest Reserve in Zambia

Another success story is the Katanino Forest Reserve in Zambia, revived after years of illegal logging. The project, led by the NGO WeForest, has brought back diverse wildlife and restored the Miombo woodlands. Sustainable farming and agroforestry now characterize the region, with over 700 farmers protecting trees through beekeeping.

Valuable Underwater Forests Off Zanzibar’s Coast

Coral reefs, often called “forests underwater,” play a crucial role in carbon sequestration and provide habitats for marine life. On Zanzibar, tourism operators and NGOs work together to restore damaged coral reefs. Tourists can participate in coral restoration near Mnemba Island by joining coral planting dives.

How Travelers Can Contribute – Ecotourism in Africa

Tourists indirectly support environmental protection by booking tours with operators that back local reforestation projects. One example is the Root2Fruit project in Malawi, supported by the German tour operator Abendsonne Afrika. Since 2019, 5,000 trees have been planted, expected to neutralize one million kilograms of CO₂ over ten years.

These diverse projects highlight how Africa is shaping a sustainable future by combining reforestation, tourism, conservation, and climate action. Forests—both on land and underwater—play a key role, and the protection of these ecosystems is becoming a growing focus of sustainable tourism.

*Source: Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020 (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations)

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VOICE4AFRICA is an initiative by the KLEBER GROUP, a full-service PR agency specializing in tourism with extensive expertise in Africa. In collaboration with African tour operators, the initiative promotes responsible tourism to Africa as a means of international understanding and a driver of sustainable development. Voice4Africa is a founding member of the business initiative ReThinking Africa and winner of the Corps Touristique Award for International Understanding 2023.

Press contact:

Hanna Kleber and Julia Kleber | Management
Friederike Galuschky | Senior Consultant Communications

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Phone: +49 (69) 71 91 36 0
E-mail: hanna.kleber@klebergroup.com and julia.kleber@klebergroup.com / friederike.galuschky@klebergroup.com