<P> Deforestation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been caused partly by unregulated logging and mining, but mostly by the demands made by the subsistence activities of a poor population . In the east of the country, for example, more than 3 million people live less than a day's walk from Virunga National Park . Wood from the park's forests is used by many of those people as firewood, as lumber for construction, and in the production of charcoal . Deforestation caused by subsistence living is an acute threat to the park in general, and to the habitat of the critically endangered mountain gorilla in particular . </P> <P> The main cause of deforestation in the East African country of Ethiopia is a growing population and subsequent higher demand for agriculture, livestock production and fuel wood . Other reasons include low education and inactivity from the government, although the current government has taken some steps to tackle deforestation . Organizations such as Farm Africa are working with the federal and local governments to create a system of forest management . Ethiopia, the third largest country in Africa by population, has been hit by famine many times because of shortages of rain and a depletion of natural resources . Deforestation has lowered the chance of getting rain, which is already low, and thus causes erosion . Bercele Bayisa, an Ethiopian farmer, offers one example why deforestation occurs . He said that his district was forested and full of wildlife, but that overpopulation caused people to come to that land and clear it to plant crops, cutting all trees to sell as firewood . </P> <P> Ethiopia has lost 98% of its forested regions in the last 50 years . At the beginning of the 20th century, around 420,000 km2 or 35% of Ethiopia's land was covered with forests . Recent reports indicate that forests cover less than 14.2% or even only 11.9% as of 2005 . Between 1990 and 2005, the country lost 14% of its forests or 21,000 km2 . </P> <P> In 1963 Kenya had forest cover of some 10 percent and by 2006 1.7 percent . </P>

Which region is experiencing the greatest annual percentage increase in forest land