Deforestation in Africa

Deforestation, the permanent removal of trees from an area of forest, is a major concern in Africa.¹ The region has the second-fastest rate of deforestation in the world, after Southeast Asia.² 41,000 square kilometres (4.1 million hectares) of natural forest in Africa is lost every year.³ This is an area equal to the size of Switzerland.⁴  

Where does deforestation occur in Africa?

Deforestation occurs in many different African nations.⁵ It is most prevalent in the continent’s largest tropical forests: the Congo Basin and the Guinean Forests of West Africa.⁶ Over 90 per cent of Africa’s deforestation is caused by agricultural development.⁷ Logging and mining industries are also primary culprits, driven by an influx of Chinese loggers and miners.⁸ 

West Africa

Over the past century, West Africa has lost about 90 per cent of its forest coverage.⁹ Growing international demand for cocoa is leading to further deforestation to make space for plantations.¹⁰ In the Ivory Coast, more than 80 per cent of the forests have been converted to cocoa production over the last 50 years.¹¹ As a result, forest cover has reduced from 10.7 per cent to 8.9 per cent of the country’s total land area since 2015.¹² 

The Congo Basin rainforest

The Congo Basin is the second-largest rainforest in the world, after the Amazon.¹³ It is known as the ‘second lungs’ of the world, for the carbon dioxide (CO2) it absorbs and the oxygen it produces.¹⁴ This immense rainforest spans across six countries – Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.¹⁵

It is an incredibly diverse place. For example, more tree species can be found in one hectare of the Congo Basin rainforest than all the UK’s native tree species combined.¹⁶ This forest is home to about 10,000 species of plants and endangered animals which cannot be found anywhere else on Earth.¹⁷ 

What plant is being used to slow down deforestation in Africa?

How is bamboo useful?

Bamboo is being used to slow down deforestation in Africa.¹⁸ It is regenerative, meaning that an entire bamboo plant can be grown from a single small cutting.¹⁹ The plant is also one of the fastest-growing on the planet.²⁰ It transforms nutrients to fuel growth incredibly efficiently.²¹ Finally, it can be used to manufacture flooring, furniture and in construction.²²  

What are the limitations of bamboo?

These properties help to make bamboo a sustainable plant that reduces dependence upon timber and other depleted species.²³ For instance, in areas where there is a high demand for indigenous trees for building purposes, bamboo can serve as a far more sustainable alternative.²⁴ Also, bamboo itself absorbs CO2, making it useful in the fight against global warming.²⁵ 

Nevertheless, bamboo has its limitations in preventing climate change. There are fears of widespread starvation if too many poor Africans begin growing bamboo instead of food crops.²⁶ Ultimately, the existing rainforest must be protected and enhanced to help preserve ecosystems and reduce the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. This should be coupled with a global reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to prevent a catastrophic rise in temperatures.

1. Derouin, S. (2019). Deforestation: Facts, Causes & Effects. [online] Live Science. Available at: https://www.livescience.com/27692-deforestation.html.
2. Afrik21.africa. (2021). Virtualmin. [online] Available at: https://www.afrik21.africa/en/africa-deforestation-threatens-the-growth-of-the-forest-carbon-market/ [Accessed 1 Feb. 2021].
3. Inter Press Service. (2015). Bamboo – An Answer to Deforestation or Not in Africa? [online] Available at: http://www.ipsnews.net/2015/02/bamboo-an-answer-to-deforestation-or-not-in-africa/ [Accessed 1 Feb. 2021].
4. Inter Press Service. (2015). Bamboo – An Answer to Deforestation or Not in Africa? [online] Available at: http://www.ipsnews.net/2015/02/bamboo-an-answer-to-deforestation-or-not-in-africa/ [Accessed 1 Feb. 2021].
5. Green Matters. (n.d.). African Countries That Used Satellite Monitoring Cut Deforestation by 18 Percent. [online] Available at: https://www.greenmatters.com/p/deforestation-drops-18-percent-two-years-africa [Accessed 1 Feb. 2021].
6. Union of Concerned Scientists. (2016). What’s Driving Deforestation? [online] Available at: https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/whats-driving-deforestation.
7. Chatham House – International Affairs Think Tank. (2018). How Poverty Is Contributing to Deforestation Across Africa. [online] Available at: https://www.chathamhouse.org/2018/12/how-poverty-contributing-deforestation-across-africa.
8. Chatham House – International Affairs Think Tank. (2018). How Poverty Is Contributing to Deforestation Across Africa. [online] Available at: https://www.chathamhouse.org/2018/12/how-poverty-contributing-deforestation-across-africa.
9. Welle (www.dw.com), D. (n.d.). African deforestation: “If nothing is done, we may lose everything” | DW | 30.05.2018. [online] DW.COM. Available at: https://www.dw.com/en/african-deforestation-if-nothing-is-done-we-may-lose-everything/a-43924887.
10. Resource Trade. (n.d.). Cocoa trade, climate change and deforestation. [online] Available at: https://resourcetrade.earth/publications/cocoa-trade-climate-change-and-deforestation#top [Accessed 1 Feb. 2021].
11. The Real Price of a Chocolate Bar: West Africa’s Rainforests (2019). The Real Price of a Chocolate Bar: West Africa’s Rainforests. [online] Yale E360. Available at: https://e360.yale.edu/features/the-real-price-of-a-chocolate-bar-west-africas-rainforests.
12. Afrik21.africa. (2021). Virtualmin. [online] Available at: https://www.afrik21.africa/en/africa-deforestation-threatens-the-growth-of-the-forest-carbon-market/.
13. Greenpeace USA. (2015). Congo Basin Forests. [online] Available at: https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/forests/congo-basin/.
14. Greenpeace USA. (2015). Congo Basin Forests. [online] Available at: https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/forests/congo-basin/.
15. World Wildlife Fund. (2000). Congo Rainforest and Basin | Places | WWF. [online] Available at: https://www.worldwildlife.org/places/congo-basin.
16. Yeung, P. (n.d.). The bold plan to save Africa’s largest forest. [online] www.bbc.com. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210107-congo-basin-a-bold-plan-to-save-africas-largest-rainforest [Accessed 1 Feb. 2021].
17. Yeung, P. (n.d.). The bold plan to save Africa’s largest forest. [online] www.bbc.com. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210107-congo-basin-a-bold-plan-to-save-africas-largest-rainforest [Accessed 1 Feb. 2021].
18. Akwada, D.R. and Akinlabi, E. (2018). Bamboo an alternative wood to reducing tropical deforestation in Ghana. In: ResearchGate. [online] Conference: International Conference on Infrastructure Development and Investment Strategies for Africa. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327230922_-_Bamboo_an_alternative_wood_to_reducing_tropical_deforestation_in_Ghana#:~:text=The%20evolution%20of%20bamboo%20is,in%20environmental%20and%20economic%20issues. [Accessed 1 Feb. 2021].
19. www.greenfacts.org. (n.d.). Glossary: Plant regeneration. [online] Available at: https://www.greenfacts.org/glossary/pqrs/plant-regeneration.htm [Accessed 1 Feb. 2021].
20. Regenerative. (2014). 7 Functions of Bamboo. [online] Available at: https://regenerative.com/seven-functions-bamboo/ [Accessed 1 Feb. 2021].
21. Regenerative. (2014). 7 Functions of Bamboo. [online] Available at: https://regenerative.com/seven-functions-bamboo/ [Accessed 1 Feb. 2021].
22. Regenerative. (2014). 7 Functions of Bamboo. [online] Available at: https://regenerative.com/seven-functions-bamboo/ [Accessed 1 Feb. 2021].
23. Akwada, D.R. and Akinlabi, E. (2018). Bamboo an alternative wood to reducing tropical deforestation in Ghana. In: ResearchGate. [online] Conference: International Conference on Infrastructure Development and Investment Strategies for Africa. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327230922_-_Bamboo_an_alternative_wood_to_reducing_tropical_deforestation_in_Ghana#:~:text=The%20evolution%20of%20bamboo%20is,in%20environmental%20and%20economic%20issues. [Accessed 1 Feb. 2021].
24. Inter Press Service. (2015). Bamboo – An Answer to Deforestation or Not in Africa? [online] Available at: http://www.ipsnews.net/2015/02/bamboo-an-answer-to-deforestation-or-not-in-africa/.
25. Inter Press Service. (2015). Bamboo – An Answer to Deforestation or Not in Africa? [online] Available at: http://www.ipsnews.net/2015/02/bamboo-an-answer-to-deforestation-or-not-in-africa/.
26. Inter Press Service. (2015). Bamboo – An Answer to Deforestation or Not in Africa? [online] Available at: http://www.ipsnews.net/2015/02/bamboo-an-answer-to-deforestation-or-not-in-africa/.