Burundi biological diversity and tropical forest assessment [: executive summary]

Domestic crops have replaced native forest and savannah species, while the herbaceous vegetation in pastoral areas has been greatly reduced. Less than 1% of the nation"s landscape remains in virgin forest. Wildlife have also suffered, with several species, including the elephant, gorilla, and crocodile, either already locally extinct or in danger of being so. The government has begun tightening its control over forest resources by creating new reserves, expelling residents from old reserve areas, and enforcing protection laws. These measures have had a traumatic impact on much of Burundi"s large rural population (95% of the total). Many villagers near protected areas have lost their homes, agricultural and grazing land, and access to traditional wood supplies. Major recommendations presented in this report are to create buffer zones around protected areas, give local populations more control over tree planting activities, encourage forestry projects by nongovernmental organizations, link education programs to specific activities, and expand farming systems research to cover forestry, both as an ecological issue and as a possible income generator for Burundians.