The 2nd Africa Forum on Urban Forests (AFUF), hosted by the City of Johannesburg, FAO, UN-Habitat, and the Centre on African Public Spaces, brings together policymakers, researchers, and practitioners to explore the role of urban forests in shaping resilient and sustainable African cities. Under the theme Green Horizons: Shaping the Future Resilience of African Cities through Urban Forests, the forum envisions a future where urban greenery supports climate adaptation, enhances biodiversity, and improves quality of life.  

Through it’s Green-Gray Infrastructure Accelerator, WRI is working with 11 cities across Africa to deliver effective, context-tailored NbS projects: across its existing portfolio of projects, the Accelerator has already restored 3000+ acres in 5 cities with 1 million trees, sequestering 90+ tons of carbon. As a Friend of the Forum, the World Resources Institute will be hosting side events highlighting innovative strategies, best practices, and evidence-driven approaches to integrating natural infrastructure into city planning for long-term climate resilience.  

Building Resilient Urban Futures: Implementing Nature-based Solutions at Multiple Scales  

Kounkuey Design Initiative & World Resources Institute  

Date: March 18, 2025 
Time: 18:00 – 19:30 SAST 

African cities have begun to make concerted efforts to implement and mainstream Nature-based Solutions (NbS). However, a significant gap remains in understanding how to effectively implement NbS, especially in resource-constrained contexts. This session will delve into case studies from WRI & the Kounkuey Design Initiative and demonstrate how NbS can be integrated into city decision-making processes to enhance climate adaptation and mitigation, providing real-world recommendations for scaling NbS across African cities. 

Species Selection for Sustainable Urban Green Spaces  

World Resources Institute  

Date: March 20, 2025 
Time: 14:00 – 15:30 SAST 

Parks, forests, and green streets are vital infrastructure for climate resilience, public health, and social equity. As cities across Africa are working to expand urban tree cover, the selection of appropriate tree species is often overlooked, leading to species maladaptation, invasive growth, or ecological imbalances. This session will share insights from Addis Ababa and Johannesburg on how cities can develop tree species selection guideline and adapt lessons from the cities’ robust frameworks.  

Site Tours – Johannesburg’s Urban Forestry Projects 

Date: March 21, 2025 
Time: 11:00 -12:30 SAST 

WRI will be co-organizing a site Visit to Alexandra (the Hub Presents) with the Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo, Environment & Infrastructure Services Department, and the Alexandra Water Warriors. The visit will showcase river clean ups, rehabilitation, nature-based solutions and integrated greening initiatives around the Jukskei River.