What kinds of diseases are destroying the African rain forests?

[Genecks]

Hey, all.

 

I've recently taken an interest into the varying ecological disasters in the rain forest. As such, are there any diseases similar to Dutch Elm Disease that are destroying African rain forest trees?

[CharonY]

I suppose one of the biggest problems is likely to be humans.

Given the diversity of the trees in real jungles (i.e. non-cultivated forests) I assume that they are as a whole much more resistant to diseases than most forests.

[jimmydasaint]

Phytophthora cinnamomi - a blight in rainforests in Auatralia but not as widespread as it could be.

 

http://http://www.jcu.edu.au/rainforest/infosheets/rainforest_disease.pdf

 

The phyopthera cinnamomi and related species seem to be damaging plants in Africa as well as Asia and Australia. To my eternal horror:

 

Over the past two decades several important fungal diseases have gained considerable importance and pose a serious threat to the supply of chocolate (Fig. 4).

 

http://www.apsnet.org/online/feature/cacao/

 

However, I am uncertain on the likelihood of the rainforest species being destroyed by these or other non-human pests.

Edited April 25, 2010 by jimmydasaint