The changing face of Africa (BBC)

The rapid transformation of the landscape of Africa has been brought into sharp focus by the publication of an atlas by the United Nations Environment Programme.

The 400-page document, also published online, highlights major changes in each of the continent's nations.
***
RWENZORI MOUNTAINS, UGANDA



Climate change has caused the glaciers in this Ugandan equatorial mountain range to shrink dramatically. The UN says they halved in size between 1987 and 2003 (there are fewer white areas on the second image), during which time higher temperatures and decreasing cloud cover also have contributed to sublimation - direct vaporisation of ice without melting.

According to the UN, researchers believe that, at the current rate of reduction, they will have disappeared within 20 years.
***
RAINFOREST, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO



The growing road network in the north of the country has had a noticeable impact on the rainforest, with the prospect of more traffic still in the biologically rich environment. The light green corridors in the 1975 image show the deforestation along the local roads of Nord-Ubangi and Mongala provinces.
***
more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7445706.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7446793.stm

http://www.unep.org/dewa/Africa/AfricaAtlas/