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Wildlife and Forests
African tropical forests represent one of the world's great remnant blocks of closed canopy habitat. This forest is under increasing pressure from population growth, unsustainable resource use, hotter and drier climate, poor management, and other problems related to poverty, scarce financial resources and political instability.
Other factors of forestry degradation include unsustainable timber exploitation, shifting cultivation, urban expansion, and other human activities, which are posing increasing threats to this globally-significant tropical forest resource. Deforestation continues at a rapid rate, causing both ecological and social disruption. Although the problems have been well known for many years, they persist due to the entrenched nature of the unsustainable production system.
African's forests are the world's second largest tropical reservoir and sink of carbon dioxide and contain high levels of biodiversity. Loss of forest cover on this scale imposes serious risks of loss of biodiversity, and emission into the atmosphere of carbon dioxide previously locked up in forest biomass. Much more needs to be learned about the present scale and causes of deforestation and biodiversity loss to sustainably manage the region's vast forests for the benefit of local communities and the world.
Programme activities need to be supported to reduce the rate of deforestation of the African tropical forests and conserve the biodiversity contained within them. Thus, in the long term, avert potentially negative changes in global and regional climate. Greater awareness and NGO advocacy is required so that the problems will be taken more seriously.
The Programme will collaborate with other International Networks and other forest-related groupings in campaigning against the causes of deforestation, in supporting local groups, and in continuing dialogue with agencies involved in forest policy development. It will also monitor the initiatives being taken at the international level.
CAF will support local non-governmental organisations and local communities to foster eco-tourism, tree planting, nurseries development, and other means of generating income that do not harm wildlife or the environment.
In the area of wildlife, CAF activities will focus on monitoring and highlighting the threats to conservation of species and ecosystems, identifying priorities for conservation action, and advocating for the conservation and sustainable use of endangered species through collaborative field projects, education and the dissemination of information.
Ecotourism is nature-based tourism that involves interpretation of the natural and cultural environment and ecologically sustainable management of natural areas. It focuses on the enjoyment of nature with minimal environmental impact and fosters environmental application and awareness.
The African continent has great potential for tourism and is suitable for activities related to ecotourism. In 1998 Africa was the fastest-growing region for international tourism, now the world's largest growth industry, with no sign of slowing down. International tourism in Africa increased by 7.5 per cent, with 24.9 million tourists visiting African countries during the year, according to figures compiled by the World Tourism Organization.
In Africa, tourism's effects on local community peoples have been profound: wide scale eviction from their lands, economic dislocation, breakdown of traditional values, and environmental degradation. CAF is concerned that much of what passes as "ecotourism" is designed to benefit investors, empower managerial specialists, and delight tourists, and not enhance the economic, social and ecological health of the host communities.
Conserve Africa Foundation recognises that:
- The sustainable use of wildlife resources is considered to be a key strategy for the conservation of biological diversity.
- Tourism is one of the leading economic sectors in Africa, and that ecotourism can provide economic opportunities, which are especially important in rural areas where few other opportunities exist.
- Ecotourism development has the potential to create jobs and generate entrepreneurial opportunities for people with a variety of backgrounds, skills and experience, including rural communities.
- Tourism can generate negative impacts on the environment and on rural communities if not developed and managed sensitively.
- The flow of benefits from protected areas at the local, regional, national and international level should be equitable and sustainable.
- The provision of visitor access to protected areas can provide a source of revenue to complement state funding for nature conservation, and hence maintain the nature conservation resource base.
CAF will facilitate the exchange of information about sustainable ecotourism. Successful case studies and best practices pertaining to ecotourism development will be documented and disseminated. The organisation will advocate for the full integration of nature conservation concerns in all economic and tourism policies, plans and programmes. It will inform visitors and tourism operators about the environmental issues and concerns in relation to tourism adventure and seek their support, encourage them to be more environmentally friendly, through advocacy, lobby and information provision which will help them respect and behave responsibly towards the local environment, traditions and way of life.