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
The head of the United Nations' environment programme (UNEP) unveiled a new atlas of Africa which mapped out its changing nature.
The atlas showed images of more than 100 landmarks taken over the course of the last 35 years.
Included in the atlas were 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. Lake Chad and Lake Victoria, two of the continent's most important water sources, were both shown to be drying up.
The atlas showed images of more than 100 landmarks taken over the course of the last 35 years.
Included in the atlas were 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. Lake Chad and Lake Victoria, two of the continent's most important water sources, were both shown to be drying up.
Highlights from AFP article and report:
"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"
"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,".
"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"
"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,".
The Full report can be found here:
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