Considerations of wildlife resources and land use in Chad

In the last several decades, however, Chadians have seriously depleted their fish and wildlife resources and greatly reduced the ability of their environment to support wild animals. Poaching of large game and overharvesting of fish and other wildlife during the country"s long period of civil unrest were major causes of Chad"s loss of biodiversity, causes which have been exacerbated by drought, disease, and growing pressures on land from increasing populations. This report describes Chad"s wildlife species, their habitats, and the threats posed to them by human activities. Individuals sections examine: (1) birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates; and plants; (2) biogeographic regions (northern deserts and mountains, the central shrub steppe, southern savanna woodlands, rivers and flood plains, lakes); (3) wildlife management (organizations, activities, national parks, and faunal reserves); (4) agricultural activities; (5) agricultural impact on wildlife (habitat alteration due to land clearing and the impact of agricultural wastewater, shortening of fallow cycles, intensified land use, and use of insecticides and agrochemicals); (6) critical wildlife habitats (lake and savanna wetlands, the Tibesti and Ennedi Mountains in the north, national parks, and faunal reserves) and (7) threatened vertebrates. Includes bibliography.