Besides loss of agricultural land to landmines, one major environmental casualty of Angola's long running civil war is deforestation. Drive across the hinterland of Angola, within a radius of 50 kms around the provincial capitals, and one will see only a few, scattered groves of trees.
Chances are they are fruit trees, more valuable for their mangoes and papayas than as firewood.
Or, the trees may belong to a mission still operational, hence respected. Or, it is a forest where the military and the government get their firewood, so no one touches it. Otherwise, trees are cut down at shocking speed by the waves of displaced people who need firewood for cooking and heating. One million people have become displaced since the war erupted again last December. They join 1.5 million who were displaced between 1992-94.