Over the last 25 years civil disturbances, drought, population increases and global market pressures have all contributed in direct and indirect ways to a modification of Sub saharan African land cover.
This study uses satellite data to assess the land cover change that has taken place between 1975 and 2000 in Sub-Saharan Africa. The study shows that Africa has lost 16% of its forests and 5% of its woodlands and grasslands over the 1975 to 2000 period, equating to over 50,000 square km per year of natural vegetation. The majority of this has been converted to agricultural lands.
Main findings include:
- the agricultural domain is more crowded than 25 years ago – the on-going dynamic can lead to environmental refugees and conflict
- the role of protected areas is even more crucial than ever – but they are becoming more isolated and vulnerable
- climate change scenarios point to a worsening situation.
Main recommendations for development include:
- a priority of rural development policy should be oriented to increase yields through an intensification of agriculture and integration with animal husbandry
- activities related to the adaptation to climate change should be concentrated in the most
sensitive areas - development policy needs to address the drivers of conflict – amongst which available land and access to natural resources figure strongly
- to ensure that environmental sustainability can be achieved, ‘environmental and natural
resource’ issues must be fully integrated into development policies and processes.
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