Location:
Ethiopia is in Eastern Africa, west of Somalia.
The Resource:
"The principal types of natural vegetation correspond closely to altitude and/or temperature belts. The lowlands are characterised by steppes, savannas and woodlands, while the highlands carry forests that dissolve into woodlands, savannas and steppes in the higher mountains." - FAO
Cause of Problem:
Man has had a considerable influence on the vegetation because of firewood collection and agriculture. There is little if any closed canopy forests.
Other Environmental Issues:
"deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; water shortages in some areas from water-intensive farming and poor management" - CIA
Rhett A. Butler's Assessment :
Ethiopia loses about 500,000 acres of natural forest (200,000 hectares) per year due to firewood collection, conversion to farmland, and use of forest wood for building material. Ethiopia faces a difficult future as the agricultural sector which forms the backbone of the economy is totally dependent on forest resources. Read More
