A stack of fuel wood in Mali. Consumption of wood for timber is contributing to Mali's continuing deforestation.
Environmental issues in Mali includedesertification,deforestation,soil erosion,drought, and inadequatesupplies 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 fortimber and fuel. To meet this demand, 4,000 square kilometers of tree cover are lost annually, virtually ensuring destruction of the country’ssavanna woodlands.
One of Mali's major environmental issues is desertification. Mali has been in a drought for decades now and it is really affecting the country. Soil erosion, deforestation, and loss ofpasture land are all major problems in Mali. Mali also has ashortening water supply.[1]
According to theU.N. FAO, 10.2% or about 12,490,000 ha ofMali is forested. Mali had 530,000 ha of planted forest. Change inforest cover: Between 1990 and 2010, Mali lost an average of 79,100 ha or 0.56% per year, totaling to a loss of 11.2%, or around 1,582,000 ha, during that period.[3] Mali had a 2018Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 7.16/10, ranking it 51st globally out of 172 countries.[4]
Visualisation of temperature change in Mali, 1901 to 2020.
Though Mali contributes very little to the world'sgreenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, it is among the list of countries mostvulnerable to climate change.[5] Climate change is increasing both the intensity and frequency of floods and droughts in the country as well as the likelihood of climate disasters.[5][6] It is also likely to adversely affect food production[7] and diseases,[8] and increases social vulnerability among the country's residents.[5]
