Population Increase, Population Increase, DeforestationDeforestation, and , and DesertificationDesertification

in Africain Africa

Forests: a critical resource

• More than 1 billion people live in or around forests and use forest resources for:

• 70 million Indigenous Peoples living in remote areas depend completely on forest resources for their livelihoods

- Food- Timber- Fuel- Medicine- Income

- Clean Water- Building material- Spirituality- Recreation

FAO/ Faidutti/CFU000118

desertificationdesertification

Why does the Africa suffer from desertification? Why does the Africa suffer from desertification? a typical examplea typical example

Population Population IncreasesIncreases

More demand for More demand for energyenergy More demand for More demand for cattlecattle

Deforestation for fire woodDeforestation for fire wood Grassland suffers over grazingGrassland suffers over grazing

Roots no longer hold soil togetherRoots no longer hold soil together Roots get eaten as well as grassRoots get eaten as well as grass

Leaves no longer protect soil from Leaves no longer protect soil from weatherweather

Less vegetation means less Less vegetation means less protection from weatherprotection from weather

Loose top soil blown away by wind Loose top soil blown away by wind (Soil Erosion)(Soil Erosion)

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Loose top soil blown away by Loose top soil blown away by windwind (Soil Erosion)(Soil Erosion)

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Need proof this is happening Need proof this is happening in Africa?in Africa?

Satellite imagery from the United Nations Environmental Program

(UNEP)

Population GrowthPopulation Growth Around Lake Victoria 1960 - 2015

• The population growth around 100 km buffer zone of the Lake Victoria

• Population growth around Lake Victoria, East Africa, is the highest in Africa

These images show deforestation rate in the area, believed to be one of the highest in the world

• 1988: Shows destruction of small forest fragments

• 2002: The lighter green strip bisecting the images is the result of extensive deforestation and intensive cultivation

Tai National Park, Côte d’Ivoire – site of world’s highest deforestationdeforestation rate

DeforestationDeforestation in Itampolo, Madagascar

These images show the changes in narrow coastal plain

• 1973: Shows heavily forested area home to unique and rare plant and animal species

• 2001: Burning of forest to clear land for dry rice cultivation, has led to disappearance of forest area (seen as tan)

DeforestationDeforestation Around Lake Nakuru, Kenya

These images show the land cover degradation in the lake’s catchment

• 1973: The area that hosts the world’s largest concentration of flamingos

• 2000: Excision of forest in the Eastern Mau Forest Reserve (white lines) will most likely lead to disappearance of upper catchment forest cover

DesertificationDesertification in Ravene, Senegal

Images show impact of drought and over-grazing on the woody vegetation

• 1965: Ancient valleys cutting through gravelly plateaus, with extensive bushland vegetation

• 1999: desertification spreads extensively along the shallow valley slopes

DesertificationDesertification leaves the land barren and unable to support agriculture

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