Forest habitat loss is a major threat to biodiversity, and can result in species extinctions. Moreover, extensive conversion of the forest to non-forest land cover would result in changes in soil fertility and rainfall patterns that would certainly affect human livelihood and ecosystem productivity.
What is the effect of deforestation in Africa?
As deforestation in Africa increases, less moisture is transpired into the atmosphere resulting in the formation of fewer rain clouds. Leading to less rain and subsequently this decline in rainfall could subject an area to drought.
What are the causes and effects of deforestation in Africa?
While deforestation in other parts of the world is mainly caused by commercial logging or cattle ranching the leading causes in Africa are associated with human activity. … An estimated 20 to 25 percent of annual deforestation is thought to be due to commercial logging.
Why is there deforestation in Central Africa?
However, Central African forests are under increasing pressure from various drivers of deforestation. Among them are agricultural expansion, mineral extraction, infrastructure development, commercial logging as well as charcoal and biofuel production.
What are three causes of deforestation in Africa?
What are the key drivers for forest loss across Africa? Deforestation is directly being caused by activities such as illegal logging, agricultural development, mining and infrastructure projects – but there are reasons behind these activities which are often overlooked.
What is the effect of deforestation?
The loss of trees and other vegetation can cause climate change, desertification, soil erosion, fewer crops, flooding, increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and a host of problems for indigenous people.
What is deforestation and its effects?
Deforestation refers to the decrease in forest areas across the world that are lost for other uses such as agricultural croplands, urbanization, or mining activities. Greatly accelerated by human activities since 1960, deforestation has been negatively affecting natural ecosystems, biodiversity, and the climate.
Which region in Africa is most negatively affected by deforestation?
Deforestation in the Congo Rainforest. Central Africa’s deforestation rate since 1990 has been the lowest of any major forest region in the world. However there are still a number of threats to the health of the Congo rainforest and its residents.
How is deforestation affecting Congo?
Aside from the visible depletion of resources, deforestation of the DRC also leads to a lost habit for the mountain gorilla among other rare species like the okapi, resulting in decreased biodiversity, soil erosion, and contribute to climate change.
What forests are in Central Africa?
The Congo Basin rainforest in Central Africa is the second largest rainforest in the world and most of the 90 million people living in the region depend upon it for their livelihood.
Why is deforestation happening in the Congo?
Slash-and-burn agriculture, commercial farming and the development of infrastructure to open up the forest zones together with the construction of secondary agricultural roads are the main causes of deforestation. Other reasons include urban expansion due to the rural exodus and population growth.
What are the major causes and consequences of deforestation?
Causes for Deforestation:
- Agriculture: Conversion of forests to agricultural land to feed growing needs of people. …
- Commercial logging: …
- Mining: …
- Increase in population: …
- Urbanization and industrialization: …
- Construction of dam reservoirs: …
- Forest fires: …
- Overgrazing:
Does Africa have deforestation?
Deforestation is a prime example—17 percent of the world’s forests are found in Africa, including the second largest tropical forest, the rainforest of the Congo Basin, which itself accounts for a whopping 60 percent of Africa’s biodiversity.