African landmarks at threat from global warming: UN
Pastor Dale Morgan
African landmarks at threat from global warming: UN
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JOHANNESBURG, June 10 (AFP) Jun 10, 2008
Some of Africa's most famous landscapes such as snow-capped Mount
Kilimanjaro and Lake Chad, are at risk of vanishing forever as a result
of global warming, a new UN report warned Tuesday.
Unveiling the new atlas of the continent, which maps out its rapidly
changing nature, the head of the United Nations' environment programme
(UNEP) said it was vital that the international community delivers a new
climate agreement before a global convention in Copenhagen next year.
"We need a solution that not only delivers deep emission reductions but
also accelerates the flow of funds for adaptation and the climate
proofing of economies, and addresses poverty and the achievement of the
Millennium Development Goals," UNEP executive director Achin Steiner
told reporters.
The atlas featured a series of images of more than 100 landmarks taken
over the course of the last 35 years.
Some of the startling revelations by the report include satellite images
of Mount Kilimanjaro's glaciers which have been disappearing since the
beginning of the 20th century.
The survey warned that Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa,
could be snow-free by 2020. It also revealed how glaciers on Uganda's
Rwenzori mountains had decreased by 50 percent between 1987 and 2003.
Lake Chad and Lake Victoria, two of the continent's most important water
sources, were both shown to be drying up.
Cape Town's unique fynbos vegetation had also been dramatically reduced
by urban development over the last three decades while the expansion of
capital cities such as Dakar from relative backwaters had had a major
enviornmental impact.
"Loss of forest is a major concern in 35 countries, including the
Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Nigeria and Rwanda, among others,"
said the survey which was released in Johannesburg.
Africa is losing more than four million hectares (a little under 15,500
square miles) of forest every year -- twice the world's average
deforestation rate, says the Atlas. Meanwhile, some areas across the
continent are said to be losing over 50 tonnes of soil per hectare per
year, it added.
The survey said that erosion and chemical and physical damage have
degraded about 65 percent of the continent's farmlands.
"In addition, slash and burn agriculture, coupled with the high
occurrence of lightning across Africa, is thought to be responsible for
wild fires," it added.