PALAEOENVIRONMENTAL INTERPRETATION OF GEOMORPHOLOGICAL AND PEDOLOGICAL STUDIES IN THE RAIN FOREST “CORE-AREAS” OF EASTERN ZAIRE (CENTRAL AFRICA)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Geomorphological studies on the Late Quaternary landscape evolution in lesser known areas of eastern Zaire indicated by pedological, sedimentological and geochemical evidence that the recent rain forest of eastern Zaire within the glacial “core areas” was strongly degraded. Stratigraphic features such as stone-lines, hillwash sediments and incorporated organic material (fossil tree trunks) within the mottled and pallid zone attest to formerly abrupt changes of the environmental conditions. In many cases soils seem to be of an allochthonous origin; e.g. the result of former fluvial and in parts of aeolian accumulative processes. Satellite data (Landsat MSS, TM) helped to locate the main deposition areas where the extension of the rain forest was strongly reduced. Two climatic phases, representing a more open, savanna-like vegetation, were dated up to 18000 yr B.P. (“glacial aridity”) and to 2000 yr B.P. (probably these data point to a deforestation induced by humans).