Trees Outside of Forest

NASA has funded an international team of US and African institutions to study a new land cover transition in systems of Trees Outside of Forests (TOF), that could have important implications for global climate change mitigation and adaptation. Most forests in the tropics are losing carbon and are a net source of emissions, but there is growing evidence that TOF landscapes around the world are increasing tree biomass and are important potential sinks for carbon. Africa is a particularly important region, as recent studies have identified the occurrence of farmer-mediated and farmer-promoted increases in biomass in savanna and woodland landscapes in rural areas.

The project will use earth observation satellite image data to map TOF landscapes in West and East/Southern Africa. The objective: estimate the area today, as well as examine its trend and future potential. The question is important because of the potential large area in African semi-arid lands that currently support TOF, which could be increased through policy and economic development interventions. Furthermore, TOF systems can have significant benefits to local communities through agroforestry and other tree-based production systems that bring higher economic returns to local livelihoods and enhanced environmental benefits for land rehabilitation.