Deforestation in the African Rainforest Impacts, Location, Causes, and Preventable Steps/Measures Taken By: Lauren Dicranian and Zach Nusbickel

Rainforests and Affected Regions Guinea Forest Chain 35000 Square Miles Sierra Leone to Ghana, and Benin to Cameroon Congo Basin 80% of Africa's rainforests, 2/3 of Democratic Republic of the Congo Also in Gabon, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Cameroon, and Equatorial Guinea 540,000 Square Miles Guinea Forest Chain: 35000 Square Miles, Sierra Leone to Ghana, and Benin to Comeroon Congo Basin: 80% of Af. Rainforests, 2/3 of DRC, in Gabon, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Cameroon, and Equatorial Guinea, 540,000 Square Miles

Causes of Deforestation Wood Fuel Developing countries require great amounts as cheap fuel source because of high amounts of poverty; about half the illegally removed timber from these rainforests are used for fuelwood. Illegal and Destructive Logging and Mining Practices Because of vast amount of land, it becomes hard to enforce laws throughout, especially with the current government structure. Government corruption stops termination because they are making money off of it Land Tenure & Increasing Population A need for more land & buildings as population grows Agricultural Uses Land cleared for growing of crops (mainly cash), land then becomes unfertile and completely without trees. Wood fuel- For developing and impoverished countries Illegal logging & mining- Corrupt governments Land Tenure & Population- Need for more land Agriculture- Needed for more plant growth

Data Deforestation Amounts in Africa Percentage of Rainforest and Protected Area in Each Country Map of Africa

General Effects of Deforestation: Economically, Politically, Environmentally and more Increased Soil Erosion Disruption of Water Cycles Increased Greenhouse Gas Emissions Desertification Reduced Biodiversity Promotes Illegal Harvesting of Trees/Fuelwood Harvesting Destroys the habitats of indigenous peoples and ecosystems of the animals living there Governments solely rely on trees in terms of exports for economic benefit, especially in areas of poverty or undeveloped countries Increased Soil Erosion- as the trees` deep roots can no longer hold the soil in. Disruption of Water Cycles-trees help keep the balance between the water on land and in the atmosphere, but when deforestation or degradation occurs, this balance is thrown off. Resulting, are changes in river flow and precipitation. Increased Greenhouse Gas Emissions- forests help to eliminate carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses into oxygen , but become useless and carbon sources when cut, burned, or in other ways, removed. In increase in greenhouse emissions contribute to rising temperatures, changes in weather patterns, and frequent extreme weather conditions. With altering temperatures, creatures dwelling in the forests are affected in their availability to obtain food and water, and again, loss of their habitats. Desertification- Reduced Biodiversity- species go extinct due to loss of their habitats. Promoting of illegal harvesting of trees and Fuel wood Harvesting- because wood is the popular, cheap source for fuel, especially for those in poverty, thus, causing the illegal harvesting of timber. Destruction of habitats of indigenous peoples and ecosystems of animals living there- And lastly, governments solely relying on trees for economic benefit- this wipes out acres and acres of trees, completely wiping out entire forests, the groups of indigenous people living there, their cultures, and the extinction of many native species of animals. Mainly prevalent in areas of poverty or undeveloped countries.

Measures Taken to Prevent Further Deforestation and its Effects World Rainforest Movement (WRM) - an international network of citizen groups with goals to secure both the livelihoods and lands of forests, especially for the natives there. Main campaign- the Tropical Forest Action Plan Rainforest Action Network (RAN)- nonprofit, volunteer conservation group who protects/preserves rain forests across the world, mainly by using direct citizen action, and also works to preserve cultures of indigenous peoples. Green Belt Movement- nonprofit, run primarily by women, mission aimed at combating deforestation, desertification, improving the economic activities of women, and promoting community development. Have already planted more than 20 million trees and provided employment for tens of thousands of women. Forest Degradation in Developing Countries (REDD)- offer financial assistance to enable forests to be kept intact, mainly aimed at developers. World Wildlife Fund (WWF)- sustaining forests centered upon four key areas: forest certification reforming exports combating illegal logging protecting forested areas. With forest management efforts, forests can be secured, but yet local economies can still benefit from their resources, like by replanting the trees harvested. World Rainforest Movement or WRM- an international network of citizen groups whose general goals are to secure the livelihoods and lands of forests, especially for the natives living there. They accomplish this by supporting efforts in reducing commercial logging, dams, plantations, mining, colonization, farming of aquatic organisms and more economic activities that threaten the forests and native civilizations that thrive there. Their main campaign- the Tropical Forest Action Plan opposes actions of the International Timber Trade Organization, many of whose actions are linked to deforestation and forest degradation. The Rainforest Action Network or RAN is a nonprofit, volunteer conservation group who protects and preserves rain forests across the globe, by using the strategy of direct citizen action, which consists of rallying to put public pressure against cooperations, politicians, individuals, and governments who enable the destruction of the rainforests. Also takes part in strengthening the international forest conservation movement and protecting the cultures of indigenous peoples, whose environments are being destroyed by deforestation of rainforests. Promotes non-wood resources for tropical countries to export, like edible nuts, fruits, rubber, medical plants, and ecotourism. Put pressure on several American companies, such as Bank of America, to promote the prevention of climate change, forest protection policies, and more. Green Belt Movement-  nonprofit, run primarily by women, mission aimed at combating deforestation, desertification, maintaining indigenous trees, improving the economic activities of women in poverty with an emphasis on the disabled, and promoting community development.​ Have already planted more than 20 million trees and provided employment for tens of thousands of women.​ The Forest Degradation in Developing Countries or REDD offers the finical aid needed to enable forests to be kept intact, mainly aimed at developers . World Wildlife Fund (WWF)- sustaining forests centered upon four key areas, forest certification, reforming exports, combating illegal logging, and protecting forested areas. With forest management efforts, forests can be secured, but yet local economies can still benefit from their resources. 

Overview: Guinea Forest Chain and Congo Basin forests affected Causes: Wood fuel, illegal logging and mining, land tenure and population, agriculture Many Negative Effects Soil erosion Disruption of water cycle Desertification Measures taken to prevent deforestation WRM (Tropical forest action plan) RAN Green Belt Movement (Replanting) In the Amazon alone, about 17% of the forests have been lost in the last 50 years, mainly due to cattle ranching.