Africa's Deforestation Process: Is it Really Poverty Related?

It also has been one of the popular tourist spots that people from the rest of the world came to in search of Safari adventure.

But all this has been a thing of the past. Today the African jungles face extinction. Deforestation for the last 10 years has claimed five million hectares every year and has been rising. This is despite the focus of Green movement on this part of the world. Why have all efforts to save these jungles gone to the drain, who is the culprit behind the massacre?

Africa has been the poorest amongst all nations in the world. There is scarcity of food and malnutrition is rampant. Many kinds of diseases have affected the people here and millions of people die every year because of malnutrition or disease. Statistically speaking, Africa is one of the most critically affected and distressed country.

How does poverty affect deforestation?

217 million Africans suffer from hunger and poverty and have been living in pathetic conditions for many years. Without a solution to their problems in sight, people have resorted to the jungles to satisfy their daily basic needs. Many people joined large logging companies as workers or laborers to earn money. People who lived by themselves cleared up forest areas for cultivation of farm produce and animal rearing.

Such mindless deforestation has been widespread and still growing oblivious of the effect it has on nature and planet earth. Hunger and poverty have left no scope for education and hence these people cannot even understand, if told about the effects of deforestation.

Africa's economic condition has been declining and now so is its jungles boundaries. What is more dismal is the fact that neighboring countries or the rest of the world has not been able to do much for them in terms of economy or growth.

Though a bigger picture would not seem to make sense of the relation between poverty and deforestation, a closer look would reveal that poverty affects everything in this big bad world. Then how can the forests be far from it. If no solution is brought up for the relief of Africa's poor population, the deforesting will continue till the jungles are completely cleared.

What can be done to get Africa over the poverty line?

A country disturbed by civil war, poor governance and communal disharmony can hardly make a lasting place for its countrymen. Weak walls will fall apart easily. Where and how to initiate changes that can save people, economy and forests is the million dollar question. Truly, strong movements can rock the world

Only proper and honest governance can improve the conditions of any country. When other countries become aware of the existence of a strong and powerful government, they would be more than ready to help them combat poverty if it could in any way help stop deforestation. Since Africa is unable to have such governance, financial incentives could set the ball rolling. Sadly, how this can be made full use of again depends on the government in Africa.

If only honest people would come forward to fight for survival of Africa - its people and its forests, saving the nation and thereby planet earth would not be so impossible after all. With proper guidance and aid, Africa will be able to fight her war against poverty and deforestation effectively.

If only the deforestation would stop, Africa and planet earth could have a promising future. The world deserves better people.

You could be one of them.