Challenges in Implementing Biodiversity Policy in Sub-Saharan Africa Region

Abstract

The sub-Saharan Africa is, geographically, the area of the continent of Africa that lies south of the Sahara. According to the United Nations, it consists of all African countries that are fully or partially located south of the Sahara. The region is the less developed regions in the world, where the poorest people who are most vulnerable to biodiversity loss live, are also regions where threats to biodiversity are the highest. Also, the region was rich in high genetic diversity, even though there are a lot of factor that limit the implementation of biodiversity policy to the region. The aim of this review was to collect literature for different factor that limit the implementation of biodiversity policy to the region. Among different factor that affect the implementing of biodiversity policy in sub-Sahara Africa, deforestation is one of the major environmental problems in sub-Saharan Africa. According to World Bank report in 2007, the share of forest area in SSA has declined from 29.3% in 1990 to 26.1% in 2007. The other factor is expansion of Agriculture which, directly leads to the loss of the habitats displaced by crop and pasture lands patchy conversion patterns lead to the fragmentation of existing forest, and hence to a reduction in the number and abundance of species that can be supported on unconverted land. The next factor is war and conflict which is common in sub-Sahara Africa. War greatly reduces accessibility and increases the logistical difficulties of protecting the conservation and armed conflicts had a devastating impact on the region’s biodiversity. Climate change is an added stress to already threatened habitats, ecosystems and species in Africa, and is likely to trigger species migration and lead to habitat reduction. Up to 50% of Africa’s total biodiversity is at risk due to reduced habitat and other human-induced pressures. Other factors like urbanization, population growth and poverty of sub Saharan region also contribute their effects on the implementation of biodiversity policy. Therefore, it will be good make conducive environment before implementing biodiversity policy to the region to protect this rich biodiversity before losing completely.