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Ethiopia: Deforestation: Difference between revisions
Ethiopia: Deforestation (view source)
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==Why are forests so important?== | ==Why are forests so important?== | ||
Humans benefit from and are very often reliant upon forests for regulating and supporting cultural and provisional services. However, all across the globe the expanse of forest areas is declining for very many reasons, but largely as a result of logging activities and the conversion of forest habitats to croplands; for example, agricultural expansion accounts for up to 43 percent of tropical forest losses. <ref>Green Facts: Scientific Facts on Forests. Available from http://www.greenfacts.org/en/forests/index.htm</ref> Forested catchment areas account for three quarters of the planet’s accessible freshwater, which loses its quality as forest conditions worsen. <ref | Humans benefit from and are very often reliant upon forests for regulating and supporting cultural and provisional services. However, all across the globe the expanse of forest areas is declining for very many reasons, but largely as a result of logging activities and the conversion of forest habitats to croplands; for example, agricultural expansion accounts for up to 43 percent of tropical forest losses. <ref name="Green">Green Facts: Scientific Facts on Forests. Available from http://www.greenfacts.org/en/forests/index.htm</ref> Forested catchment areas account for three quarters of the planet’s accessible freshwater, which loses its quality as forest conditions worsen.<ref name="Green" /> Non-timber resources are hugely important as a means of survival during times of stress and scarcity, e.g. wild fruits, bee keeping, fodder and grazing. | ||
There is a very wide array of forested landscapes in Africa. Many of these forests are under incredible pressure from people as local populations expanded almost exponentially over the course of the last century: nearly everywhere the forested landscapes show clear signs of human impact. How they look today is a result of both environmental and human factors, but is the latter which have had the most negative impact. Humans interact with the forested landscape through collection of forest products, shifting cultivation, permanent of semi-permanent agriculture, and many different kinds of agroforestry systems. The issues of deforestation and accompanying land degradation is high on national and international agendas, but still poses a large challenge at the local level, as is the case in Ethiopia. <ref>Bongers, F., & Tennigkeit, T. (2010). Degraded Forests in Eastern Africa management and restoration</ref> | There is a very wide array of forested landscapes in Africa. Many of these forests are under incredible pressure from people as local populations expanded almost exponentially over the course of the last century: nearly everywhere the forested landscapes show clear signs of human impact. How they look today is a result of both environmental and human factors, but is the latter which have had the most negative impact. Humans interact with the forested landscape through collection of forest products, shifting cultivation, permanent of semi-permanent agriculture, and many different kinds of agroforestry systems. The issues of deforestation and accompanying land degradation is high on national and international agendas, but still poses a large challenge at the local level, as is the case in Ethiopia. <ref>Bongers, F., & Tennigkeit, T. (2010). Degraded Forests in Eastern Africa management and restoration</ref> | ||