Preserving The Forests of Angola's Cubango-Okavango River Basin

The Cubango-Okavango River Basin is a network of rivers which traverse Angola, Botswana and Namibia. The starting point for the river basin is in the Angolan highlands where the Cuito and Cubango rivers originate. This basin is one of Angola’s major biodiversity hotspots, but with little knowledge about what forest resources exist, or how they are being used by local communities, we have no way of protecting it.

The HALO Trust, in partnership with the International Programs Office of the United States Forest Service (USFS – IP), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Forestry Development Institute (IDF), launched a regional forest inventory in the Cubango-Okavango River Basin. This project, which began in May 2024, is being carried out in support of the Angolan Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MINAGRIF). HALO—with its extensive experience working in this region and deploying teams in remote areas—has been a key partner.

The primary goal of the inventory is to survey 213 one-hectare forest plots across the basin. Many of these plots are in hard-to-reach areas that were heavily impacted during the country’s 27-year-long civil war. HALO’s logistical expertise, including its fleet of armoured vehicles and knowledge of safe access routes, enables the teams to travel to these remote locations safely and efficiently.

Each sample unit is broken up into five plots in an L shape. The main task is measuring trees (height, diameter, width, canopy size) to determine tree age, health and potential carbon sequestration (storage capacity). The technicians also take samples of other plants to examine them, documenting the different types of species.

Remote sensing capabilities that HALO has traditionally used in the demining process are also being used to gain more accurate physical data. Drones with LiDAR and multispectral sensors are surveying forest plots to examine the density of trees, canopy heights and health of the vegetation.

Almost 30 technicians have been recruited from around Angola to conduct the forest inventory. They are specialists in forestry engineering, biology, environmental engineering, and other related areas. They have been organised into five teams of five people, including a team leader, two paramedics and two technicians. Each team member is trained on all daily tasks, making them highly versatile.

In addition, there is a quality control team composed of technicians from USFS – IP and IDF that oversee the data collection, ensuring accuracy and consistency. Environmental officers from HALO handle the technical, logistical, and operational preparations before, during and after the teams are in the field. This includes conducting route safety assessments, which are vital given the remote nature of the forest plots and the legacy of landmines that were laid long ago during the conflict.

In November 2024, the final forest plot was surveyed, which is a testament to the dedication and hard work of the field teams. Forest inventories like this one are critical for monitoring forest conditions, detecting changes in forest cover, and informing timely interventions to prevent degradation. The data gathered will also be instrumental in promoting the sustainable use of forest resources, helping to curb over-exploitation and protect Angola’s natural heritage.

This partnership demonstrates HALO’s potential to expand its work beyond demining operations, contributing to Angola’s sustainable development and environmental preservation efforts even after landmine clearance is complete.

I hope that this regional forest inventory will lead to more funding for a national forest inventory—understood to be the first of its kind in Angola. I love data. I'm a biologist and I specialise in plants. Angola is one of those special countries that has a lot of biodiversity, but not all of it is documented. The data we have is either very old or very broad. Being part of the team that is collecting this data is very satisfying. Just to know I was part of that, is something that I’m proud of.