Shea Forests Efficiently Sequester Carbon

Yes: a Global Shea Alliance and FAO study found shea forests fix more carbon than shea production releases, a negative footprint of 1.04 tons of CO2 per ton of shea kernel produced. Baraka, a Global Shea Alliance member, makes its shea butter by hand at the Konjeihi Women's Enterprise Centre in Wa.

The Shea Forest has proven to be very efficient at fixing carbon in the soil, helping to reduce global CO2 levels.  The Global Shea Alliance (of which Baraka is part) along with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) published a study that evaluated the shea value chain’s contribution to climate mitigation, climate resilience, and socio-economic impact titled: ‘’Shea Value Chain as a Key Pro-poor Carbon Fixing Engine in West Africa.’’

The report found that, for every ton of shea kernel produced, there is a negative carbon footprint of 1.04 tons of CO2, relative to production volumes. Furthermore, increasing the tree population by 7 million trees annually over 14 years raises the CO2 fixed to about 9 million tons per year. This attests to the major contribution shea currently makes to limiting climate change, and strengthens the case for continued efforts at expanding shea parkland to increase their environmental benefits. 
 
The report also affirms the shea value chain as a critical income generating activity for women in rural areas, underscoring that improving collectors’ productivity and expanding parklands can increase the gross income per woman.

You can see the full report at