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CONCLUDING REMARKS 



The African environment is extremely fragile and inappropnate fonns of land use rapidly 

 lead to environmental degradation. National development programs axe promoting the use of 

 indigenous flora and fauna as both an ecologically and economically viable land use in 

 marginal areas. The long term viability of such programs will depend upon demand and 

 markets for their products. If markets are not available other forms of land use will be 

 chosen, even though they may not be environmentally sustainable. If Governments and 

 organizations wish to assist in ensuring that Africa's ecological future is not jeopardized they 

 should create appropriate incentives for sustainable use of indigenous resources by providing 

 access to markets which will generate an economic incentive to conserve wildlife and its 

 habitat. In Africa natural resources are part and parcel of the communities life. They can 

 provide subsistence needs and marketable products in raw or processed form. CAMPFIRE 

 and similar approaches are not a panacea for all of Africa's environmental problems but they 

 represent part of the solution. It is the local use of resources for local people's development 

 that will ensure the long term ecological future of Africa. 



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