Africa: Scientists warn of dramatic impact of climate change

Scientists are warning that dramatic changes may soon occur in Africa’s vegetation in response to global warming. They believe the effect may be on a similar scale to the climatic disruption in the last Ice Age and the African forest decline 2,500 years ago. Dr Jon Lovett, who led the research, said: “The results were extraordinary – plants migrate out of the Congo rainforests and there is a massive intensification of drought in the Sahel. Other areas particularly hard hit are eastern Africa and the south-west coast.”