African leaders and experts are urging a shift towards developing tree-based industries as a significant driver of economic growth and climate resilience across the continent. This call to action emerged from a high-level forum on tree-powered bioeconomies convened in Nairobi.

• The key message is to move from exporting raw biological commodities to investing in value addition, manufacturing, and innovation, leveraging Africa's vast tree resources as "economic infrastructure."
• Key participants included leaders and experts from Landscape Alliance (formerly CIFOR-ICRAF), policymakers, scientists, and investors, with remarks from Dr. Éliane Ubalijoro, CEO of Landscape Alliance, and Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak, Kenya's Principal Secretary for Science, Research and Innovation.
• Opportunities highlighted span food production, timber, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, biomaterials, renewable energy, and nature-based climate solutions, with Kenya developing a National Bioeconomy Strategy to support this growth.