fuel wood and charcoal, and would also serve as an energy source for small and medium scale industries. Forests and agroforestry systems will become even more important for protecting watersheds as climate change effects become pronounced in the sub-region (IPCC, 2007). Forest biodiversity will continue to be important for the nutrition (e.g., bush meat as a source of protein), health (medicinal plants) and livelihoods of people in the sub-region. The economies of SSA countries would also be affected positively, as export of non-timber forest products (e.g., curios, bushmeat and medicinal plants), increases due to increased demand by the large number of sub-Saharan Africans in the diaspora.

 There have been various assessments on forests in SSA. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) based on the Zambezi Basin case study predicts a continuing decline in forest diversity towards 2050, although the rates of decline vary among scenarios (MA, 2005abc). The main driver for the decline in forest genetic resources is expected to be habitat loss resulting from changes in land use. The causes attributed to future habitat loss include land expansion for agriculture and deforestation.

 A projection to 2020 in SSA shows that rates of deforestation in East and West Africa will not change significantly (FAO, 2003). In East Africa the continued deforestation will be associated with population growth, intense land use conflicts and poor economic growth. In West Africa continued deforestation will also be associated with land use conflicts. In both Central and Southern Africa deforestation is expected to occur at a higher rate than now, causing a rapid decline in forests. Deforestation in Central Africa will be caused by increased logging, increased road construction and land use conversion. In Southern Africa land reforms in Zimbabwe and expansion of commercial agriculture in Mozambique and Angola are projected to lead to rapid deforestation (FAO, 2003). In the second Africa Environment Outlook (AEO 2) projections on forest systems towards 2050 were based on forest assessments in Central Africa (UNEP, 2006a). Four scenarios resulted in different outcomes under different policies. Under a Market Forces scenario, forests will continue to decline but at a slower rate, due to policies that promote afforestation and sustainable use and management of forests. In the Policy Reform scenario, there is also a decline in the rate of loss. This decline however, is due to decreased demand in fuel wood and charcoal. The Fortress World scenario predicts high rates of deforestation and degradation of forest lands due to commercial over-exploitation of resources and pressure from the rural poor. However, because of international conventions, some forests remain. In the Great Transitions scenario, there is an increase in forest cover and improvement in forest quality. This increase will be brought about by an appreciation of the value of forest resources, improved forest management, sustainable use
of forestry and improved livelihoods. There is evidence for both pessimistic and optimistic views concerning forest projections (FAO, 2003; MA, 2005a; UNEP, 2006b).

 The move towards democratic decision making, transparency and participation of the populace in governance in countries of SSA will have an impact on the state of forest genetic resources towards 2050. For example, The New African initiative focusing primarily on African ownership and