ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a regional overview of the impact of agriculture on biodiversity in the drylands of Africa. It focuses on regional perspectives on agriculture and biodiversity by examining the situation in Northern Africa, the West African Sahel, East Africa and the Horn, and Southern Africa. The primary areas of interest have been the lush tropical forests and coral reefs. Drylands have been considered as areas of limited interest in biodiversity. Biodiversity is a concept that is used to describe the variety of life forms. Discussion on biodiversity used to focus mainly on conserving natural habitats, preserving their variety and preventing the extinction of species. Like traditional pastoralism, modern animal rearing through the privatisation of rangelands and establishment of ranches is a threat to biodiversity. Many farmers in these ecological zones that are rich in biodiversity look at the wild animals as a threat to their domesticated livestock as well as their own lives.
