Africa Celebrates Milestone With The First-ever Dendrochronology Workshop To Build Resilience Against Climate Change

04 December 2024, Africa: Climate resilience took centre stage as Ethiopia hosted a historic first-ever dendrochronology workshop in Africa, titled “Building Resilience to Climate Change Through Tree-Based Data”.

Tree rings, often called nature’s archives, serve as natural laboratories, providing unique and valuable insights into past climatic conditions, enabling scientists to understand environmental changes over centuries and better prepare for the future. This field of study, dendrochronology, offers vital data to inform strategies for mitigating and adapting to climate change while fostering sustainable ecosystems.

The workshop, which ran from 28-29 November, explored the role of tree-ring science in addressing global and regional climate challenges, supporting ecosystem restoration and advancing sustainable development.

Organized by the African Tree Ring Network (ATRN). The workshop was hosted by the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) and supported by Past Global Changes (PAGES), bringing together over 100 participants from 40 countries.

His Excellency. Kebede Yimam, Ethiopia’s Director General of Forestry, emphasized the importance of this milestone for Ethiopia and the continent, stating, “Ethiopia is honoured to host this significant milestone, alongside our partners at CIFOR-ICRAF. We are committed to advancing scientific research that will help us address climate change and protect our ecosystems for future generations.”

Said Eliane Ubalijoro, CEO of CIFOR-ICRAF, “CIFOR-ICRAF’s mission is to harness the power of trees and forests, and dendrochronology aligns perfectly with our goals. The work done here over the past two days will create a legacy for future generations, contributing to the broader mission of sustainability and climate action.”

This success marks a new era for dendrochronology in Africa, providing an invaluable platform to enhance knowledge, build resilience and contribute to the global fight against climate change. To ensure ATRN becomes a long-term sustainable African network, the participants voted to create a founding board with members from Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Benin, Zambia, Morocco, and Nigeria. Aster Gebrekirstos, Global Senior Scientist at CIFOR-ICRAF and founder of the ATRN, was elected as the first president of the board.

“This has been a long journey, but I am thrilled that we are finally gathering here in Africa to lay the foundation for understanding the diverse biomes and vegetation of Africa’s Indigenous species,” said Gebrekirstos with pride. “This workshop is a crucial step in advancing dendrochronology research across Africa.”

Participants celebrated the workshop as a pivotal moment for dendrochronology in Africa, expressing their enthusiasm for its potential to address both global and regional challenges. The workshop also acknowledged the support of PAGES in helping to develop dendrochronology science in Africa, a critical step toward strengthening scientific collaboration on the continent.

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