Demographic Pressure

Demographic pressure on forests varies widely across different CAFI partner countries. In Gabon for example, population density is low and concentrated in urban centers. By contrast, in the DRC, about half of the population lives in rural areas and depends on forest resources for food, land, energy and shelter. Demographic pressure was identified by the DRC national driver analyses on deforestation as an important underlying cause of deforestation, which was reiterated in the Forest Reference Emission Level submitted to the UNFCCC in 2018. DRC is projected to have the World’s third largest population growth (in millions) towards 2050, and is projected to be, by 2100, the World’s 5th most populous country.

CAFI’s support to measures to reduce demographic pressure combines studies on migratory flows and support to national policies on family planning, to enhance rights-based access to modern contraceptives and reproductive health measures.

Programmes