Africa faces significant challenges related to water scarcity, with its vast population having access to a fraction of the world's freshwater resources. Despite this, the continent is home to vital natural water towers, like the Angolan Highlands Water Tower, which are crucial in supplying water to millions and sustaining diverse ecosystems, including the world's largest population of African elephants. These natural systems, unlike man-made towers, supply water through extensive river networks and are crucial to addressing climate and water security challenges.

The 2019 Water Tower Index resulting from researchers ranking of 78 water towers across the globe, highlighted the importance of such natural water systems but left out water towers in Africa and Australia due to a focus on snow and ice and promoting the protection of mountain glacier-derived water towers. This omission underscores insufficient research and attention toward Africa's unique water systems, further exacerbated by a lack of infrastructure for comprehensive water management and conservation studies.

There is an urgent need for increased focus, funding, and collaborative research efforts to safeguard Africa's water towers. These are crucial for the continent's environmental and human water needs and hold significant cultural and spiritual value for local communities. It's time to broaden the definition and appreciation of water towers beyond traditional metrics to ensure Africa's critical water resources and their dependents receive the protection and attention they deserve.

To learn more, visit the African Arguments report last month, "Africa's life-sustaining water towers have been overlooked for too long."