Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - The phenomenon of desertification affects 70% of economic activity in Africa, the African Union (AU) chairperson, Jean Ping,  said on day in Addis Ababa. 'In Africa, the phenomenon of desertification affects 43% of productive lands, or 70% of economic activity and 40% of the continent’s population,' said Mr. Pingat an African  ministerial meeting in prelude to the Rio   20 conference, aimed at defining the continent’s joint position within the framework of the international conference. 'The situation of forests in the Congo basin remains worrying, and for want of sufficient commitments, keeps dwindling. As for desertification, it remains a real threat for the continent with its colloraries, drought and erosion, which are gaining ground,' he said.

In addition, the dangers related to environmental degradation, namely climate change, the impoverishment of biological diversity, drought and desertification, affect the continent’s resources and make the water issue more acute.

According to background documents of the meeting, forests are particularly important for Africa. They produce important logs and non-ligneous forest products, thus bringing their support to both local communities and to national and international trade.

Moreover, they constitute major sources of ecosystem services such as climate regulation, carbon sequestration, protection of watersheds and the habitat of species from where come bush meat and tourist opportunities.

Forests contribute to a large extent to the continent’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Although the level of sensitization to the challenge raised by climate change and the role played by forests and trees in this field have greatly improved over the past few years, political will must be enhanced so that this sensitization has an impact on policies, experts argue.

Pana 25/10/2011