Deforestation Affects Fish Stocks and Lifestyles in the Central African Republic

Deforestation is endangering fish populations and the livelihoods of fishing communities along the Mbali River, with residents of Boali reporting increasingly sparse catches. According to Jean-Romeo Senguemboli, a local fisherman, trees are being cut down to provide charcoal for cooking and heating, exacerbating environmental concerns and making it more difficult for fishermen to make a living.

Without trees, the land will burn, the water will dry up even more, and there will soon be no fish left,” he warned, noting that fish are shrinking due to rising temperatures and climate change. The shortfall is also harming local markets. Flore Ouagbele, a fishmonger, says demand is increasing as consumers travel from towns such as Yaloké and Bangui to buy supplies, leaving Boali inhabitants struggling to get fish.

Experts believe that deforestation contributes to lower water levels, increased turbidity, and less oxygen, making it more difficult for fish to survive and reproduce. Yves Kaengonza, an environmental expert at the Central African Ministry of Water, Forests, Hunting, and Fisheries, also said tree felling affects fish spawning areas. The situation emphasises the broader issues confronting the Congo Basin, the world’s second-largest tropical rainforest after the Amazon.

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