Miombo Forest: Africa’s Vast and Overlooked Woodland

The Miombo forest, spanning 1.9 million square kilometers across seven African countries, is the world’s largest dry tropical woodland, often overshadowed by the Amazon. This vast ecosystem supports over 300 million people and is home to Africa’s endangered elephants and the world’s largest mammal migration, where 10 million bats travel to Zambia’s Kasanka National Park.

Despite its crucial role in carbon storage, a recent study found it holds 3.7 billion more metric tons of carbon than previously estimated, aiding in climate change mitigation. However, deforestation has reduced its cover by nearly one-third since 1980, threatening both biodiversity and climate stability. Conservationists stress the need for greater recognition and protection of the Miombo, which remains undervalued compared to rainforests like the Amazon and Congo Basin.