As the region continues to industrialize, the adverse impact of pollution on biodiversity will become even more severe unless cleaner production technologies are adopted. The introduction of exotic species over the past century also contributed to biodiversity loss as some alien species 'out-competed' native vegetation. However, the introduction of undesirable exotic species is declining, a positive trend that will probably continue as regulations on the importation of biological resources become increasingly stringent. Civil conflict and war have also led to significant ecological damage and biodiversity losses in and outside protected areas, as well as to the marginalization of environmental management institutions and conservation programmes. Similar losses are likely to have occurred in the Great Lakes region during the past five years but have yet to be quantified.
Climate change is the latest emerging threat to biodiversity in Africa.
It has already been identified as a contributing cause in the decline of amphibian populations, due to drastic reductions in the volume of water bodies after persistent dry weather in combination with intensified human activities along the shorelines. Neither the size nor number of protected areas is likely to increase in the future because of increasingly intense competition for land to meet the needs of expanding populations, cities, agriculture and industry.