Loss of natural resources, one of the major effects

Deforestation, which consists of the massive destruction of forests, is a major environmental problem. It has multiple consequences affecting, at the same time, the environment, fauna, flora and human populations. According to an environmentalist, Engineer Innocent Banigwaninzigo in an interview with the editorial staff of the newspaper “Le Renouveau du Burundi” on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, deforestation leads to climate change.

Mr. Banigwaninzigo said that forests were important reservoirs of water whose destruction led to a decrease in evaporation and perspiration, which disrupted the water cycle and could cause droughts or floods. Forests play an essential role in climate regulation, he continues, adding that they absorb carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas responsible for global warming. He points out that deforestation releases this carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, thus contributing to the rise in temperatures.

According to him, deforestation impacts agricultural production because, he says, less forests and more drought as well as floods that destroy crops, while the majority of Burundian inhabitants depend on agriculture and livestock, says Mr. Banigwaninzigo.

“The destruction of forests leads to the loss of natural resources such as wood, medicinal plants and food products. In addition, deforestation can cause conflicts related to access to land and natural resources,” he adds.