Forest degradation as a result of lodging, shifting cultivation, agriculture and urban development is a major issue throughout the tropics.
p>Forest degradation as a result of lodging, shifting cultivation, agriculture and urban development is a major issue throughout the tropics.
It leads to loss of soil fertility, water resources and biodiversity, as well as contributing to climate change. Efforts are therefore required to try to minimize further degradation and restore tropical forests in a sustainable way.
Degraded Forest in Eastern Africa is the first research-based book to examine this problem in East Africa. The specific focus is on the forests of Ethiopia, Tanzania and Uganda, but the lessons learned are to be applicable to neighbouring countries and others in the tropics. A wide range of forests types are covered, from dry miombo forest and afroalpine forests, to forest-savannah mosaics and wet forest types.
Current management practices are assessed and examples of good practice presented. The role of local people is also emphasized. The authors describe improved management and restoration through silviculture, plantation forestry and agroforestry, leading to improvements in timber production, biodiversity conservation and the livelihoods of local people.
The book gives an overview over 17 chapters, in which many authors from all over the world, focus on typical issues concerning forest degradation. Examples are 'Opportunities and challenges for conservation and restoration of the church forests in Ethiopia', 'The role of plantation forests in fostering ecological restoration' and 'The opinion of local people concerning degradation, species invasion and management responsibility in Tanzanian dry forests'.
