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statement of Henri Nsanjama 



Vice President, Africa/Madagascar Program, World Wildlife Fund 



submitted to the 



Subcommittee on Africa, 



Committee on International Relations 



June 22, 1995 



AFRICA'S ECOLOGICAL FUTURE: NATURAL BALANCE 

 OR ENVmOlVMENTAL DISRUPTION. 



My name is Henri Nsanjama and 1 am the Vice President for Africa and Madagascar 

 Program at World Wildlife Fund. As WWF's chief implementor of Africa and Madagascar field 

 programs, I appreciate this oppormnity to submit my views on Africa's ecology. I am a native of 

 Malawi, in south-eastern Africa. Before joining World Wildlife Fund in 1990, I was the Director 

 of Wildlife in Malawi where I also served as the Coordinator of Wildlife for the 

 Southern African Development Community, which includes: Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, 

 Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. This June, I 

 marked twenty years of working in the African environment field. 



World Wildlife Fund was founded in 1961, and is today the largest private U.S. 

 organization working in international conservation. Last year, the 1.2 million Americans who 

 support WWF with their contributions, in parmership with our foundation and corporate 

 supporters, contributed more than $35 million in private funds directly to our international 

 species and habitat conservation programs. 



Allow me to start my presentation by thanking Chairman Ros-Lehtinen for calling this 

 hearing. As the United States government redefines its role in international development policy, 

 the question of Africa's ecology is timely. It is my hope that the testimony will help you. 

 Madam Chairman, and your colleagues in defming how the United States can have a positive 

 impact on the ecological future of Africa. 



Since WWF's primary mission is conservation of species and critical habitats, my 

 principle purpose as I come before the Subcommittee is to encourage your support for 

 conservation and development programs funded by the U.S. Goverimient. When executed 

 through non-governmental organizations, U.S. funded programs can have a tremendous positive 

 impact on the environment and development of the African continent. 



MAJOR AFRICAN TERRESTRIAL BIOLOGICAL REGIONS 



The biological diversity found in Africa includes the greatest diversity of plant and animal 

 species of any biogeographical region. In many cases, the African flora and fauna are completely 

 distinct and truly spectacular. There are three major categories of ecosystems in Africa. Each 

 will be outlined below. 



