27 Feb Wildfires in Africa could be helped by an unlikely source

The crucial role of forest elephants in the Central African Republic is essential in protecting the rainforest from wildfires and preserving carbon storage.

The animals are known to create natural firebreaks with their trails, which prevent wildfires that could release large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

The Congo Basin rainforest is the world’s second-largest carbon store and relies heavily on these elephants to maintain its ecological balance.

However, forest elephant populations are dwindling due to factors such as poaching, civil wars, and threats from wildfires caused by herders.

Conservation efforts in the Chinko Nature Reserve involve controlled burns to limit fires and protect wildlife.

The decline in global burn areas over the past 18 years, particularly in Africa also raises concerns about the potential risks to carbon storage in natural landscapes.

This is why the complex interactions between wildlife, fires, and carbon storage, are important to each other and the ecosystems.

Efforts to protect forest elephants not only contribute to biodiversity but also play a vital role in maintaining the balance of the rainforest ecosystem.

Economic incentives for conservations could provide solutions to ensure the sustainability of these efforts.