95 / 148
81
2008). Those two countries are the main
exporters of forestry products in the Basin. The
area under forest and woodland in Angola has
declined at a rate of two per cent between 1990
and 2010 (FAO 2010) as shown in Figure 4.3.
Much of the fuelwood cut in Angola is converted
to charcoal for use in urban households. Rural
industries also use substantial amounts of
fuelwood to burn bricks, smoke fish, brew beer
or dry salt. These are some of the issues to be
addressed, including alternative methods.
Indigenous knowledge systems should be
incorporated into sustainable harvesting.
Carbon emissions have not been a significant
part of environmental monitoring in Angola
as the potential is minimal when compared to
industrialized countries, and estimated figures
are still low, although increasing rapidly due
to expansion in the exploitation and use of
petroleum resources. Figure 4.4 shows annual
carbon emissions per capita.
Reverse biodiversity loss by 2010
Another indicator of environmental
sustainability is the proportion of terrestrial
and marine areas protected. The extent of the
protected land area in Angola has remained
the same since 1990, but there is little data
available on the protection of Angola’s marine
resources. The Southern Africa Environment
Outlook shows that Angola’s protected areas
total 81 812 sq km, an extensive area when
compared to many other countries, but just
seven percent of total surface area, as shown in
Figure 4.5.
Figure 4.6 shows the percentage changes
in biodiversity of some species, illustrating
the reduction in diversity of mammals and
molluscs, while others are steady or increasing
(eg, birds).
2003
2000
2002
2001
2004
2005
Metric tonnes per person per year
0
0.5
1.0
1.5
Source: AfDB 2010
Carbon dioxide emissions in Angola
Figure 4.4
Source: SADC and SARDC 2008
0
7%
Protected areas share of total land area
in Angola
Figure 4.5
Mammals Molluscs Other inverts Reptiles
Birds
Number of species
20
15
10
5
0
Source: Source: FAO 2010
Change in biodiversity for selected
species in Angola
Figure 4.6
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
Percentage
45
46
47
48
49
50
Source: FAO 2010
Land area covered by forests in Angola
Figure 4.3