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Deforestation in Mt Mulanje Forest Reserve in 1989 (left) and 2010 (right). Mulanje Mountain is a Global Biosphere Reserve designated under
UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere Programme. Biodiversity of Mt. Mulanje is under threat from deforestation and encroachment, poaching, bush/
Zambezi River Basin countries have been losing
forests over the decades, and this loss continues
unabated. Rates of forest loss per year in the last
20 years have been significant with Tanzania,
Zimbabwe and Mozambique recording the
highest losses of 403 350 hectares, 327 000
hectares and 217 800 hectares, respectively,
while Malawi and Namibia recorded the
smallest losses at 32 950 hectares and 73 600
hectares, respectively (FAO 2011). The main
causes of forest loss include land clearance for
agriculture and settlements due to growing
population, and wild bush fires. In Botswana’s
Chobe enclave, forest loss has also been caused
by increased commercial logging by private
companies and destruction by elephants.
Deforestation