A growing water crisis is unfolding across West Africa, with a new study by WaterAid and Tree Aid warning that millions are increasingly exposed to unsafe drinking water. The report From Roots to Rivers: How Deforestation Impacts Freshwater Access finds that 45 per cent of people across Ghana, Niger and Nigeria more than 122 million are now at risk, a rise of 20 million in just five years. Researchers link the trend directly to deforestation and the rapid loss of vegetation that supports freshwater systems.
Forest loss destabilising freshwater systems
The report explains that forests stabilise soil, filter pollutants and regulate rainfall, making them essential for protecting freshwater sources. Their destruction is disrupting these processes, threatening drinking water supplies, agriculture and public health. The assessment, based on 12 years of satellite observations from 2013 to 2025, offers the clearest evidence yet of a direct correlation between vegetation loss and declining freshwater availability.
Surface water loss worst in Niger and Nigeria
According to the study, every 1,000 hectares of forest lost in Niger and Nigeria corresponds to an average loss of 9.25 hectares of surface water. Nigeria shows a loss of 6.9 hectares for the same deforestation unit, while Niger records a higher figure of 11.6 hectares. In Ghana, deforestation is more strongly linked to deteriorating water quality than quantity.
Climate change intensifying impacts
Climate change is further compounding the crisis. Intense rains are washing sediments and pollutants into rivers and lakes, reducing both water quality and groundwater recharge. Niger faces the worst conditions, with 99.5 per cent of available surface freshwater now considered at risk from sedimentation. In Nigeria, around 85.6 million people live in highly vulnerable areas, while Ghana continues to struggle with contamination linked to the loss of nearly 298,000 hectares of vegetation since 2013.
Call for integrated water–forest policies
WaterAid and Tree Aid stress that water security cannot be separated from forest conservation. They are urging governments to integrate forest protection with national climate strategies and strengthen equitable, climate-resilient water services for vulnerable communities.