Drought, a health and ecological threat
It is ironic that the country nicknamed "the water tower of West Africa" is suffering from drought. Twenty-two African rivers have their source in this country, including the Niger, the third longest river in Africa, the Senegal and the Gambia. Overexploitation of water resources, climate change, which causes drought, water pollution and the destruction of ecosystems where springs are formed are all factors that make this precious resource scarce. Today, one third of Guineans do not have access to safe water, and drink water from rivers, which contributes to the spread of diseases such as malaria and Ebola.
From felling to planting trees
While the country had 14 million hectares of forest in the 1960s, it now has only 700,000 hectares. The Ministry of the Environment even states on its website that "Guinea has one of the fastest deforestation rates in the world.
One of the main causes, in addition to bushfires, mining and clearing for agriculture, is the population's heavy reliance on charcoal fuels. In 2008, firewood still accounted for 89 percent of energy use. The government's reaction is commensurate with the hecatomb: since 2021, it has simply banned the cutting and transport of wood, and no exceptions will be tolerated! However, this bold measure is not warmly welcomed by the population, and even some environmentalists are mixed. This is the case of Sékou Amadou Diakité, a prominent Guinean environmental activist, known for his work against deforestation. With his NGO Renascedd, he has replanted 366,000 trees in 2020 alone! However, he considers the decree unrealistic, since it could lead to the precariousness of a large part of the population dependent on wood.
Mining resources: a poisoned gift
Beneath Guinea's fertile soil lies a quarter of the world's reserves of bauxite, the main ore used to produce aluminum. Although it is relatively new, mining is already so intense that Guinea's reserves are expected to be exhausted by 2045. Guinea is even more present on the market since Malaysia and Indonesia have abandoned their exploitations... as they were an environmental disaster.
Investors, mainly Chinese and Australian, build on a large scale, to the detriment of the forest. In addition to deforestation, which affects terrestrial species, the creation of numerous ports to support this activity, which damage the aquatic environments of the Rio Nuñez.
The exploitation could become even more harmful than it already is, since Guinea has plans to build production plants to process the ore on its territory. These would be extremely energy intensive, and hydro dams are already being built to support this energy drain. On top of that, these plants would produce three times more waste, containing heavy metals, than they would produce aluminum.
Without denying this economic windfall, the government is really trying to control the operations, notably by obliging each operator to report on the environmental and social impact. Six of the most important players have also formed an environmental network, working with experts to limit their impact. To encourage sustainable management of these deposits, the World Bank has allocated $65 million to Guinea to create a program that reconciles the environment and the management of mining resources.
Biodiversity under pressure
Thanks to its numerous ecosystems, Guinea has an extremely rich biodiversity, which is now under threat. The pressures are very diverse, and if deforestation is one of the main threats, some practices are still problematic, such as poaching. Chimpanzees are still illegally hunted, especially to become pets. However, several institutions, such as the Chimpanzee Conservation Center, are working to conserve this endangered and extremely vulnerable animal.
But Guinean resources are coveted and sometimes lead to its loss, as in 2021, when an Australian company discovered the equivalent of six billion dollars worth of gold, and illegally seized this booty, even though it was located within the strictly protected Haut-Niger National Park. This park, which is essential for Guinean biodiversity, is home to 500 chimpanzees, as well as endangered fish species. The government's responses are numerous and include the training of 1,800 agents to fight poaching, but also the multiplication of protected areas in recent years. However, these real efforts are still fragile, notably because of a lack of funds to put them in place.
National parks: sanctuaries of biodiversity
In the face of the various pressures on biodiversity, national parks are proving to be of vital importance. The largest of these, the Haut-Niger National Park, is absolutely essential, as it is home to the Mafou Forest, the last dry forest in Guinea, and one of the last in West Africa. It is also important because it is located in an important mammal migration corridor.
Niokolo-Badiar National Park is not very large, but is in fact an extension of Niokolo-Koba Park across the border in Senegal. This creates a larger area of biodiversity where antelopes, monkeys, lions and leopards can be found. The park is not overflowing with animals, however, as it is considered a buffer zone where herders are allowed to graze their animals.
In the north of the country, the Moyen-Bafing National Park, shows the continued efforts of the authorities to preserve the environment, since it was created in 2017. Already, it proves to be of paramount importance, as it is home to a population of 4,000 chimpanzees. Finally, the country also has a number of areas protected in other ways, such as 16 sites protected by the Ramsar Convention, aimed at conserving wetlands.
