Technology in West Africa

when we call a group of scholars professional philosopers or we say a group of students is engaged in the task of studying philosophy, what exactly do we mean? this question is important not simply because of the usual impression of philosopher as a kind of intellectual generalist, whose area of knowledge has no specific focus and whose skill of critical thinking and capacity discerment, for example, and noting more than general intellectual ones. it should be noted that this impression is not totaly misplaced, giving the preoccupation of early philosophers for cosmological speculation for providiong guides (essential moral) to life. Forests and woodland cover almost one-third of the planet and are one of the world's main natural resources, essential to maintaining environmental stability, providing raw materials for a range of industries and giving the poor some of the essentials for survival - fuel, building materials, food and fodder.

However, forests are under pressure from expanding agriculture, economic exploitation and shifting cultivation. Large tracts of tropical forests have been, and are still being, cleared and in many tropical areas, the fragile nutrient-poor soils cannot sustain permanent agriculture. The reduction of forest cover in mountain areas affects as much as half the world's population.

Forest products are used daily. Lumber for construction, plywood and hard woods for furniture, paperboard for packaging, and paper for printing and writing.

Three-quarters of the people in the developing world rely on wood for cooking and heating. Many rural people rely on forests to provide fruits, meat from wildlife, fodder for livestock, gums, resins, fibres and a wealth of other forest products necessary for their survival.