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22 Dec 2024

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

The Central African Republic (CAR) is facing significant environmental challenges as recent data reveals a persistent trend of tree cover loss primarily due to shifting agriculture practices. Over the past two decades, the country has experienced a net loss of approximately 1.32% in tree cover, which translates to a reduction of over 727,000 hectares. This loss is set against the backdrop of the country's substantial tree cover extent of nearly 47 million hectares.

Shifting agriculture remains the predominant driver of deforestation, accounting for the vast majority of tree cover loss and associated carbon emissions. The impact of this practice has been profound, with the latest figures for 2022 showing a loss of over 51,000 hectares, contributing to a staggering 26 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent emissions.

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The environmental consequences are further compounded by incidents such as the recent fire alert in the Bamingui-Bangoran region, which underscores the ongoing vulnerability of CAR's forests to various disturbances. While the number of fire alerts may vary, each incident contributes to the broader pattern of environmental degradation affecting the nation's forest resources.

As the CAR continues to lose vital tree cover, the implications for biodiversity, climate regulation, and local communities are significant. The data presents a clear call to action for sustainable land management practices that can reconcile the needs of agricultural development with the preservation of forest ecosystems.

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