The Browning of the Congo: The Curse of Global Warming and Climate Change
The Browning of the Congo: The Curse of Global Warming and Climate Change
In a sign that all is not well with the earth, scientists have found the Congo forest is steadily losing its green cover. According to a study conducted by researchers at the University at Albany and State University of New York, Africa’s Congo rainforest has experienced massive loss in green cover due to global warming and resulting climate change. For those who are strenuously opposing the negative impact of global warming and climate change, perhaps such studies will provide food for thought.
This particular study used satellite data from NASA for analysis. Researchers studied the data to arrive at a conclusion that the second largest tropical rainforest in the world is now under threat due to changing climatic conditions. The researchers used a statistic called the Enhanced Vegetation Index to assess the amount of green cover in the rainforest. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument was used to measure the green cover. The green cover of the forest is considered to be a reliable indicator of the health of the forest.
Researchers from the 2 universities observed that there has been a steady decrease in the green cover leading to what is known as “browning”. While the browning of the Congo is more gradual than the Amazon, it is undeniable that the rainforests in the world are under threat. The forest canopy has become brown. Climate change and the evil effects of man induced global warming are also taking a heavy toll on the vegetation growth. This has resulted in higher land surface temperatures and decreased cloudiness. While some may assert that low level cloud cover increases photosynthesis, this does not eliminate the fact that it also depletes soil moisture which can affect tree mortality.
While the forests of the Congo Basin were thought to be resilient to moderate climate change, the extremities that have come about due to recent ill effects of global warming and climate change has created severe drought in the tropical areas. This can have a very bad impact on the forests. The researchers conducting this study found that persistent drought since the year 2000 has impacted the biodiversity and carbon storage of the Congo forest. World Wildlife Fund has estimates that it can lead to the loss of 400 species of animals including elephants, gorillas and chimpanzees. It can also lead to the extinction of over 10000 species of tropical plants, 30% of which are found only in the Congo rainforest. More than 1000 species of birds and 700 species of fish are also under threat due to this terrible phenomenon of browning, according to WWF.
So while the scientists of the world may be constructing a modern ark which can carry us away if earth is destroyed, they should remember that there may not be very many animals, birds or plants we can carry away with us, unlike Noah. Most climate change models have predicted that tropical forests are under stress due to changing climate patterns. This means more extremes of temperature such as cold and heat waves. This means the increased occurrence of floods, droughts and wildfires. This means the rise in the sea levels and the melting of the glaciers. Perhaps, industries should realize that money only has value if the world survives.
Severe drought may damage evergreen trees and destroy natural habitats. The browning of the Congo has also coincided with drastic reduction in the amount of water present in the Congo. Scientists are working hard to gain more insights into the environmental and physiological mechanisms which characterize the browning of the Congo. A warmer and drier twenty-first century has become an indication of the sign of things to come.
With increased emphasis on money, growth and development, the bigger picture is being lost. Progressivism and modernity are fine, but scientific conclusions should be given their merit and consideration. Fact is often stranger than fiction and data from research findings can be used to convince the sceptics. Faced with the prospect of imminent doom, convincing the sceptics certainly seems to be the better option. Perhaps scientists will unearth more damning evidence so that companies turn towards sustainable development instead of just development. Maybe future general elections in India will focus on sustainable development models and the future of the country and the world rather than just bickering and political slurs. But by then, it may be too late. The browning of the Congo has already begun.
