Environmental issues in Mali

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A stack of fuel wood in Mali.  Consumption of wood for timber is contributing to Mali's continuing deforestation.
A stack of fuel wood in Mali. Consumption of wood for timber is contributing to Mali's continuing deforestation.

Environmental issues in Mali include desertification, deforestation, soil erosion, drought, and inadequate supplies of potable water. Deforestation is an especially serious and growing problem. According to the Ministry of the Environment, Mali’s population consumes 6 million tons of wood per year for timber and fuel. To meet this demand, 4,000 square kilometres of tree cover are lost annually, virtually ensuring destruction of the country’s savanna woodlands.