Africa’s forests and biodiversity are critical for climate stability, food security, livelihoods and sustainable development. Yet these vital ecosystems face increasing pressure from deforestation, land degradation, climate change and biodiversity loss. The Regional Centres of Excellence for Biodiversity and Forests (RCoE) initiative is a bold response to these challenges. The primary objective of the initiative is to ensure that Africa’s forests, ecosystems and biodiversity are sustainably managed through data-driven, science-backed solutions and approaches. This will enable these ecosystems to continue providing essential services — such as food, water, fuel and shelter — that contribute to the wellbeing of local populations, while supporting economic growth and sustainable development across the continent. The RCoE initiative is funded by the European Union and implemented by CIFOR-ICRAF, in collaboration with the Centre de Suivi Écologique (CSE) in West Africa, the Central Africa Forest Observatory (OFAC) in Central Africa, and the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD) in Eastern and Southern Africa, among other partners.
