Alert from Sao Tome and Principe

When you visit the volcanic islands of São Tomé and Príncipe, off the coast of West Africa, you’ll be immediately struck by the strangeness of these tropical islands. The steep volcanic mountains appear to be shrouded in an impenetrable fairytale jungle. But as ecologists know, first impressions can be deceiving.

When Portuguese navigators discovered São Tomé and Príncipe in 1470, the land was completely covered in forest. In more than five centuries of human occupation, much of the native forest has disappeared. In fact, much of the green you see from the air today comes from shade plantations and degraded forests.

Biodiversity hotspots

These islands have been called the “Galapagos of Africa,” referring to an archipelago of Pacific islands known for their high levels of endemic species. But while they are far less famous than South America’s Galapagos, they are the clear winner when it comes to unique biodiversity: São Tomé and Príncipe is eight times the size of the Galapagos but has more endemic species. smaller Bigger than the Galapagos Islands.

This is perhaps not surprising, as tropical forests are biodiversity hotspots, hosting far more species than any other terrestrial biome. They also provide critical ecosystem services such as food, timber and climate regulation.

But forests are disappearing at an alarming rate. 1990 and 2015129 million hectares of forest were lost worldwide, an area the size of South Africa. Sub-Saharan Africa itself had the highest rates of deforestation: up to 14% in southern and eastern Africa and 10% in central and western Africa.

The situation in Sao Tome and Principe

The last national forest survey in Sao Tome and Principe was in 1999. According to estimates at the time, 10% of the country’s land was non-forested, 61% was covered by forests and 29% was covered by shade forests, which form agroforestry systems and produce coffee and cocoa, the country’s main export crops.

These numbers may suggest there is nothing to worry about, but they do not take into account recent trends in forest loss. They also do not take into account whether the forest is native. Shade Plantationmost of the islands are covered by “degraded” forest ecosystems (i.e., secondary forests). These ecosystems are mainly composed of exotic and invasive species, such as breadfruit, African nutmeg, and oil palm. Native forests are mainly confined to a few remote valleys and inaccessible mountainous areas.

The island’s rapidly growing economy and population have had a significant impact on native forests. The island’s population has increased by more than one third Forests have been India’s main source of income since the beginning of this century. As land became increasingly scarce, people began to rely on forests for their livelihoods. At the same time, the government licensed large tracts of forest to commercial interests. In the past seven years, the government has allocated 5% of the country’s land to oil palm cultivation and 5% to commercial cocoa cultivation.

Differences in conservation practices

In theory, conservation efforts in Sao Tome and Principe are good. Both islands have protected areas: the Opo Natural Park in Sao Tome and the Natural Park in Principe. Each of these reserves covers nearly a third of the islands.

Despite similar legal protections for natural forests, the actual conservation situation varies greatly from island to island.

Principe has a three-month logging ban. Most of the available wood is imported from certified producers, so it is less likely to find illegally felled trees. In contrast, illegal logging is rife in the much larger and more populous Sao Tome.

One explanation for the differences between the islands is that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Classification In July 2012, Príncipe was designated a Biosphere Reserve. Currently, the regional government is promoting the island as a model for sustainable development.

Implications

Forest loss and degradation lead to scarcity of forest resources resourceIn addition to habitat loss due to deforestation, native species are also facing degraded forest systems that do not provide adequate habitat. Biodiversity.

The well-being of future generations is also at risk.

The people of Sao Tome and Principe rely heavily on forest resources. Almost all houses are made of wood. Giant snails caught in the forest are an important source of protein, as are fish caught in offshore fisheries by canoe. Both are usually cooked with charcoal or firewood obtained from the forest.

These resources are becoming increasingly difficult to obtain, and the timber supply is insufficient to meet the island’s growing needs. The existing timber is of poor quality, with a lifespan of only about five years, making it unsuitable for construction.

The authorities are not indifferent. The timber shortage has become so severe that the government is planning to import timber from Equatorial Guinea. It is hoped that cheaper supplies will provide a temporary market solution to the current crisis and allow São Tomé’s timber stocks to recover.

But much of the timber industry operates outside the law. The Forestry Department lacks funds, vehicles and manpower. It is unable to address the complaints it receives about illegal activity. And when authorities try to take action, they are often met with hostility in the local community, where people often Road closures Obstruction of law enforcement.

The situation in Sao Tome and Principe reflects a worrying trend in forest degradation and loss around the world. Solutions are needed, and hopefully some of the experiences of this small island nation will provide useful lessons for the rest of the world.