Global water security at risk as deforestation depletes freshwater, report warns
A new report says the destruction of forests is undermining supplies of clean water worldwide, with three-quarters of the planet’s accessible freshwater originating in forested landscapes.
The research by the charities WaterAid and Tree Aid, drawing on data from Ghana, Niger and Nigeria between 2013 and 2025, links forest loss to declines in both the quantity and quality of surface water.
“Ghana, Niger and Nigeria were chosen due to their varied ecological situations and climates, while all being in West Africa,” the report titled, 'From roots to rivers: How deforestation impacts freshwater access' said.
Across the three West African countries, more than 122 million people, about 45% of the combined population, are currently at risk from unsafe surface water, the study estimates. The number of people facing high water risk has risen by over 20 million in the past five years.
“Across all three countries, the number of people exposed to this risk is increasing. This is especially significant in urban areas where, as well as the low-quality water supplies, there is a much higher demand,” the report stated.
In Niger and Nigeria, the loss of every 1,000 hectares (ha) of forest is correlated with an average loss of 9.25 ha of surface water, according to the analysis. Nigeria alone recorded 324,000 ha of vegetation loss over the study period, roughly equivalent to an area the size of the city of Birmingham each year, the report says.
The study noted, “The drivers of deforestation in the region are complex and intersect with issues of poverty, marginalisation and climate change. Unsustainable land use practices, particularly agriculture and charcoal harvesting, are key contributors to vegetation loss, often driven by poverty and food insecurity. Inadequate land tenure and forest protection laws, as well as governance models which exclude traditional rights holders, worsen the situation further.”
In Niger, 99.5% of available surface freshwater is judged to be at risk from sedimentation and poor quality, making it unsafe to drink directly, the report finds.
The report argues that forest and water policies should be designed together, rather than in isolation. It points to evidence from Niger suggesting that reforestation can help reverse losses, in areas where 101,000 ha were restored, every additional 1,000 ha of vegetation was associated with an 11.6 ha increase in available surface water.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
