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12 Dec 2024

Central African Republic Grapples with Shifting Agriculture Impact on Forests
Central African Republic Grapples with Shifting Agriculture Impact on Forests

In the Central African Republic, a recent fire incident in the Mambéré-Kadéï region has brought to light the ongoing challenges the country faces with forest conservation. Over the past two decades, the nation has seen a significant shift in land use, primarily due to shifting agriculture practices, leading to substantial tree cover loss. Analysis of historical data reveals that shifting agriculture has been the predominant driver of this deforestation, contributing to an overwhelming majority of tree cover loss.

From 2001 to 2022, the Central African Republic experienced a net loss of approximately 727,831 hectares of tree cover, which equates to a 1.32% decrease in forested areas. This loss not only affects the landscape but also has broader implications for biodiversity, climate regulation, and local communities reliant on forest resources. The latest fire alert, while isolated, underscores the persistent vulnerability of the country's forests to human activities and natural disturbances.

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The country's tree cover extent, which once stood at over 47 million hectares, has been gradually diminishing, with shifting agriculture accounting for the loss of hundreds of thousands of hectares each year. This pattern of land use has led to significant carbon emissions, further exacerbating the global climate crisis. The Central African Republic's struggle with forest conservation is a microcosm of a larger global issue, where the balance between agricultural development and environmental preservation remains a critical challenge.

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