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=__**Environmental Degradation in Africa**__=



__Gabon-History__
Gabon was originally inhabited in Paleolithic times. During the 16th. century Omiene, and by the 18th century, the Fang people started to move into the area. In the late 1400's, Portuguese navigators found this land and discovered an estuary that they sailed up and began trading with merchants along the coast for slaves. Soon after the Portuguese, Dutch, French, and English sailors came to Gabon and the French became the dominant group. The French tried to help control the slave trade after the abolition of it in the 1800's, but weren't completely successful in stopping it but they did reduce the number of slaves that were being exported. Over time treaties were signed and Christian missions were established throughout the region. These missions were places were freed slaves could go to live. In the late 1800's, the French appointed a governor to Gabon when it was a part of the French Congo from 1889-1904. For almost half of the 1900's, Gabon was part of the French Equatorial Africa. Some Africans resisted the French rule until 1911. During World War II, the French gained even more control over Gabon and became an overseas territory of France. By 1958 Gabon became self-governing within the French Community. (www.infoplease.com)



__Zimbabwe-History__
Early Zimbabwe was inhabited by descendants of the Bantu tribe. The first Europeans that these people encountered were the Portuguese in the 15th century. The relationships between the two groups were pretty good and the Portuguese really only wanted to make sure they had contact with their colonies in other parts of Africa. In the 1830's the Ndebele people from South Africa migrated north to Zimbabwe.These people enslaved the Shona people until the end of the century. Then Cecil Rhodes' led the British South African Company into Zimbabwe and took control of the country and called it "Southern Rhodesia." A referendum soon followed for Zimbabwe to join the South African Union. Even though there were good benefits, Jan Smuts voted against it. Zimbabwe won independence in 1980 after a civil war and the election of a new president, Robert Mugabe. After Zimbabwe gained independence they made environmental plans to try to help prevent deforestation from happening.

__**Impacts on the Countries**__ Economic-By cutting down he rain forests in Gabon and Zimbabwe, it is making money for the country but it is also hurting them too. The revenue that is made from the selling of the lumber that is a product of the logging is great, totaling up to $10 billion US dollars annually. However it deforestation is also loosing money for these two countries because it turns valuable land that could bring in more revenue into useless scrub brush and grasslands. Deforestation is also hurting the ecotourism business which also brings in millions of dollars a year. Ecotourism is when people come to see the rain forests and environmental factors of a place, but if there are no rain forests left, there won't be any tourism which results in a loss of money for the country. Another cause of deforestation is that farmers are clearing the land to make room for them to grow their crops which helps them in the short term but after so many years the soil will become infertile and it will once again be useless.

Political-The government has not done their part to keep deforestation from happening in their country and it is due to the lack of legislation for land reforms to keep forests from being cleared. Also the government has unevenly distributed the land so some people have more than others. The government has also failed to secure the natural resources that the forests provide. In Zimbabwe laws were put in place to try to pevent deforestation and killing of wildlife illegally. One of these laws satated that if poachers were caught killing animals and stated that they would be shot on the spot. Also with the high rate of poverty, the governments are having trouble controlling people who are breaking the law to get food and wood for fuel. If these two countries can get better at reducing the rat of poverty they will better be able to control and protect the environment.

Social-The people that live in the forests are loosing their homes as a result of deforestation. The Pygmy people who live below the poverty line in Gabon. Also as the population grows, people need places to live in nd so they are encroaching on the vatives land that they live on and pushing them out.

Future-The future of deforestation in Gabon and Zimbabwe relies solely on the government. If the governments just sit back and watch their resources be destroyed the problem will only worsen. However, if the governments decide to play an active role and do whatever it takes to preserve their environment for the countries benefit and for the people living in the forests, the poblem can be solved and in he long run save the countries money.



Works Cited "A Brief History of Zimbabwe – Part 2: UDI to Independence." African History -- Explore the History of Africa. Web. 24 Sept. 2009. .

"Impact of Deforestation—Loss of Renewable Resources, Wildlife Conflict." Rainforests. Web. 24 Sept. 2009. .

Infoplease: Encyclopedia, Almanac, Atlas, Biographies, Dictionary, Thesaurus. Free online reference, research & homework help. &mdash; Infoplease.com. Web. 24 Sept. 2009. .

"Politics Batters Zimbabwe's Environment -." OhmyNews International. Web. 24 Sept. 2009. .

"Root Causes of Deforestation." EzineArticles Submission - Submit Your Best Quality Original Articles For Massive Exposure, Ezine Publishers Get 25 Free Article Reprints. Web. 24 Sept. 2009. .

"Trango News - Gabon among fourteen states chosen for anti-deforestation scheme." Trango News - Latest News. Web. 24 Sept. 2009. .

"Zimbabwe History | iExplore." Adventure Travel & World Travel | iExplore. Web. 24 Sept. 2009. .