Forests, Forest resources and Forestry in Africa

Forests, Forest resources and Forestry in Africa

Introduction
What is a forest? Are you surrounded by a collection of trees in your school or home area? In Senior One, you learnt about climate and vegetation in East Africa. You described the vegetation types found in East Africa and you realised that East Africa has different vegetation on types which are greatly affected and influenced by the nature of climate experienced in an area. In this chapter, you will learn the importance and uses of forest resources in Africa and get to know the reasons why they should be preserved.
Forests of Africa
Forests mainly are of two types: the natural and planted. Natural forests are those that grow in a particular environment because of its natural climatic conditions while artificial forests are those which have been planted by people. In Senior One you learnt about the categories into which forests are subdivided. You can discuss them with your neighbour and note them down. After doing tasks in activity
23.1, you will discover the main types of forests in Africa and their characteristics.

Activity 23.1Understanding the main tytFB of forests in Afriæ and their characteristiics

In groups, study photographs A-C in figure 23.1, carry out a textbook or library
research on the forests of Africa and do the tasks that follow.

1.Identify the type of forests in photographs A-C shown in Figure 23.1.
2.What are the other types of forests in Africa but not shown in the
photographs in Figure 23.1?
3.Describe the characteristics of forests identified in (1) and (2).
4.Use an atlas and draw the map showing forest distribution in Africa.
5.Share your work with the rest of the class through a discussion.
6.Present your work to the teacher for further guidance.
You have learnt that Africa has different types of forests such as tropical rainforests, Mediterranean, mangrove and temperate forests. These forests have different characteristics in relation to their tree sizes, heights, the undergrowth, vegetation and climatic zones where they are located.
Mediterranean forests have dense vegetation, composed of broad leaves and small trees. Mangrove forests have tree spices which can tolerate highly concentrated salt water and stilt roots that help them adapt to harsh conditions. Temperate forests are mainly characterised by a variety of deciduous trees. Tropical rain forests receive very high annual rainfall, therefore they are ever green forest.

Factors responsible for the growth and distribution of forests in Africa
You might realise that forest growth and distribution is influenced by various factors. These factors are both physical and human. After doing tasks in activity 23.2, you will understand the factors responsible for the growth and distribution of forests in Africa. out will also find out the importance of forests to African countries.

Discussing the factors responsible for the growth and distribution of forests in Africa
In groups,
1 Discuss the factors that influence the growth and distribution of forests
in Africa?
2 Study the photographs A-D in Figure 23.2 and do the tasks that follow.

(a) Identify the benefits of forests shown in the photographs A-D in figure 23.2
(b) Discuss other benefits of forests to the;
(i) Environment
(ii) People
(iii) Economy
3 Present your work to the rest of the class through a discussion
4 Present your work to the teacher for further guidance
You have realised that forests are essential to the health of our environment. For example, trees absorb and store much of the carbon <ioxide that would be contributing to climate change. Forests also regulate water cycles, maintain soil quality, and reduce the risks of natural disasters such as floods.

Forestry in Africa
Forestry involves the management, exploitation and utilisation of forests for human and economic development. This involves a number of methods. After doing tasks in activity 23.3 you will find out the methods used in forest exploitation in Africa.

Activity 23.3
Discovering the methods of forest exploitation in Africa
In groups,
1 Carry out a textbook or internet research and explain the methods involved in the exploitation of forests in Africa.
2 Share and present your findings tothe rest of the class through a discussion
3 Make corrections where necessary.
Forestry in Gabon
Gabon is one of Africa’s countries whose economy partly depends on forest products. In chapter 3 you learnt about locating places using different methods, use that knowledge and locate Gabon. The map in Figure 23.3 shows the forested areas of Gabon.

About 77% of the country is estimated to be covered by dense equatorial vegetation containing 3000 species. It is important to note that African forests are mainly made up of hardwood trees. Examples of species are Mahogany, Maobi, Azobe, Keva Azigo Ebony and Okoume, a softwood tree that forms the backbone of Gabon’s forest industry. Gabon is the chief timber exporter. You probably learnt that the forests of an area are influenced by the type of climate experienced in that area.

After doing tasks in activity 23.4, you will be able to describe the climate of Gabon.
Activity 23.4
Describing the Climate of Gabon
In groups, study the table 23.1 and do the tasks that follow.
Table 23.1 Climate data of Libreville – Gabon coast

Draw a graph showing the climate of Libreville
1 Identify the months with:
(a) Highest temperature
(b) Lowest temperature
2 Calculate the
(a) Mean annual rainfall
(c) Highest rainfall
(d) Lowest rainfall
(b) Mean annual temperature
2 Describe the characteristics of the climate in the table 23.1
3 Which type of forests do you think can be found in the climatic region whose data is shown in table 23.1
4 Present your work to the rest of the class through a discussion.

You have found out that Gabon has rainforests mainly because it receives reliable rainfall throughout the year. Gabon is largely made up of tropical rainforests which normally grow astride the equator but within the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. These types of forests have a number of characteristics which differentiate them from other forests. After doing tasks in activity 23.5, you will be able to understand
the characteristics of forests in Gabon.

1 Identify the characteristics of forests in Gabon shown in figure 23.4
2 What are the other characteristics of forests in Gabon not shown in figure 23.4?
3 Present your findings to the rest of the class through a discussion
4 Present your work to the teacher for further guidance.

The development of the hard wood industry in Gabon has been favoured by a number of factors which are both physical and human. After doing tasks in activity 23.6 you will be able to find out the factors that have favoured the development of the hard wood industry in Gabon. Finding out the factors that have favoured the development of
Activity 23.6
hard wood industry in Gabon
In groups, carry out a textbook or internet research and do the following tasks.
1 What are the factors that have led to the development of the hard wood industry in Gabon?
2 Present your work to the rest of the class through a discussion.
3 Make corrections in your work where necessary.
4 Present your work to the teacher for more guidance
You have leamt the factors that lead to the development of the hard wood industry which are both physical and human. It is important to note that the physical factors mainly favour the growth of forests while the human factors favour the exploitation of forests. Timber processing is that part of the forest industry involved in transforming logs into new products. Timber processing involves a number of steps before it is turned into finished products. After doing tasks in activity 23.7 you will be able to find out the stages of timber processing.
Exploring the stages of timber processing
Activity 23.7
In groups, carefully study the phoVaphs A-E in figure 23.5 and do the tasks that follow.

1 (a) Describe what is taking place in each of the photographs shown in figure 23.5
(b) Draw a flow chat to show the steps of wood processing from the photographs shown in Figure 23.5
2 (a) Why is it better to process the timber and make things in Africa, than
selling it directly overseas?
(b) What are the difficulties faced in processing timber?
3 Present your work to the rest of the class through a discussion
Industrial production in Gabon is very clearly dominated by sawn timber accounting for over 700/0 of production but Gabon stands out from the other countries of the Sub- Region. The timber industry had to move further inland to the untouched forestland. Today up to 750,000 tons of wood are exported annually.
Production of timber is mainly carried out by large companies and run by Europeans and Gabonese government enterprises and 15% of the total production is carried out by family members. After doing tasks in activity 23.9 you will understand more about the timber exports of Gabon.

Exploring timber exports of Gabon
Activity 23.8
study the pie chart in Figure 23.6 and do the tasks that follow.
TOP EXPORTS MARKETS OF GABON IN 2018

Source ITC (2020) main markets in terms of exports value for the product of wood, wood charcoal exported by Gabon
Figure 23.6: Gabon exports
1 Identify the country where Gabon exports;
(a) the highest percentage of wood.
(b) the lowest percentage of timber of wood.
2 Comment on the volume of wood exports in 2018.
3 Present your work to the rest of the class through a discussion
Even though Gabon is greatly depending on the forestry sector for her economic development, it faces a number of problems which affect the exploitation of forests. These problems are both physical and human. After doing tasks in activity 23.9, you will be able to understand the problems facing the exploitation of Gabon’s forest resources.

Activity 23.9
Understanding the problems facing the exploitation of Gabon’s
forest resources
In groups, study photographs A and B in Figure 23.7, and do the tasks that follow.

1.Identify the problems facing the forest sector shown in the
photographs in Figure 23.7.
2.Discuss other problems facing the forest sector in Gabon
3.Suggest the possible solutions to the problems in 1 and 2
4.Present your work to the rest of the class through a discussion
You have realised that the development of forestry in Gabon has had challenges for example over exploitation which leads to depletion of forests. The dense forest cover in Gabon has limited good roads and railway network construction. The government of Gabon is working tirelessly to solve the problems faced by the forest sector.
Destruction of forests in Africa
Forest destruction involves the removal of trees at a greater rate than the growing rate. You have probably seen trees being cut down in your area, why were they being cut down? Were the cut trees replaced?

The forests of Africa are disappearing at a high rate. According to the United Nations and Food and Agriculture Organization, forests in Africa are being cut down at a rate of more than 4 million hectares per year. After doing tasks in activity 23.10, you will be able to understand more about destruction of forests in Uganda.

Understanding the ways through which forests are destroyed In aroups, study the word puzzle in figure 23.9 and do the tasks that follow.

I (a) From the word puzzle identify the different factors that have e to led destruction of forests in Africa
(b) Discuss other ways through which forests are destroyed in your area.
2 Suggest ways through which forests can be conserved.
3 Present your work to the rest of the class through a discussion.
Destruction of forests in Uganda
Uganda has a wide range of forests and these include the tropical rain forests which cover 49% and the planted forests 1%. Major forests include Mabira, Kalinzu and Maramagambo. What are the others?
However, human activities have reduced this forest cover. After doing tasks in activity 23.11, you will learn more about forest destruction in Uganda.

Activity 23.11
Exploring forest destruction in Uganda
In groups do the following tasks
1 Have you heard of illegal destruction or cutting down of forests in Uganda, why is it happening?
2 What are the trees cut down used for?
3 Discuss the dangers of cutting down trees in your area.
4 Present your work to the rest of the class through a discussion.
Deforestation and forest degradation have continued over the last decades despite all the attention and efforts to implement sustainable forest management and conservation. You should note that all African countries are experiencing high rates of forest destruction. Controlling forest destruction has been emphasised in most of the African countries. After doing tasks in activity 23.12 you will find out the ways of controlling forest destruction
Activity 23.12
Understanding ways of controlling forest destruction
In groups, study the photograph in Figure 23.10 and do the tasks that follow

1.Identify the activity being carried out by the students in the photograph in Figure 23.10
2.Explain the importance of the activity to the community.
3.Why is re-planting of forests not embraced in Africa?
4. In what other ways can forests be sustainable?
5.Share and present your findings to the rest of the class for further discussions

you have learnt that the best solution to deforestation is to curb the felling of trees by enforcing a series of rules and laws to govern it. Ban Clear-Cutting of forests, carry out re-afforestation and afforestation. All these can solve the problem of forests in Uganda and the rest of Africa.

End of Chapter Summary
In this chapter you have learnt that;
Forests are mainly of two types the natural and artificial. Natural forests are those that grow in a particular environment because of its natural climatic conditions while artificial forests are those which have been planted by people.
Forests in Africa are further sub divided into Tropical rainforests, Mediterranean forests and Mangrove forests.
the main forest resources in Africa are located in Gabon, Congo, Eswatini Forests have many uses.
Forests in have different characteristics, for example, the tropical rainforests are ever green, trees grow in impure stands and have long gestation periods.
Forests help in terms of conserving the environment such as helping in the formation of rainfall, holding soil particles together thus reducing erosion, and the leaves help in soil formation.
Different factors favour the development of a hardwoods industry for example valuable tree species, availability of capital, market, improved transport and communication networks and labour.
The sustainable methods of harvesting trees from the forests include clear cutting, shelter wood and the selection system.