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Burundi's Rainforest

By Steve Nix, About.com Guide

Burundi ForestsFAO

Location:

Landlocked in Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo and south of Rwanda.

The Resource:

"The small amount of land still unused and covered by forest is steadily giving way to agriculture, especially in the mountains where it is vital that it be preserved in order to protect the soil and ensure proper water management. Moreover, not only are closed forests being cleared, but open forests are also being degraded, sometimes to the point of total elimination, through overexploitation for charcoal production." - FAO

Cause of Problem:

The near depleted forests are still being lost due to pressure on the land for food sources, fuel and grazing.

Other Envirnmental Issues:

"soil erosion as a result of overgrazing and the expansion of agriculture into marginal lands, deforestation (little forested land remains because of uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel), habitat loss threatens wildlife populations." - CIA

Rhett A. Butler's Assessment :

"Burundi is a landlocked, resource-poor country that depends almost entirely on subsistence agriculture. Uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuelwood coupled with agricultural clearing and grazing lands has resulted in nearly complete deforestation of the country." Read More

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