Uganda has already lost two-thirds of its forests in the last 20 years and could have lost all of its forested land by 2050, which would have severe repercussions for its poorest people according to environmentalists.

Deforestation has already seen Uganda’s 5 million hectares (12.3 million acres) of forest in 1990 dwindle to 3.5 million by 2005. Now the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has warned that if deforestation continues in Uganda at its present rate there will be no forests left in 40 years.

Pygmy chameleon, Mount Mabu Photograph: Julian Bayliss/Kew

“It’s been a very successful week.” Antonia Windsor joins scientists and conservationists in Mozambique where new species of butterfly and reptiles await Link to this audio

The unique lost rainforest of Mount Mabu is to be given protection from exploitation, following a new expedition to the remote area revealed a host of new species.

The existence of the pristine forest in northern Mozambique was revealed by the Observer last year, and was originally discovered with the help of Google Earth. It is now thought to be the largest such forest in southern Africa.

A farmer working on a ricefield in Yangshuo, southern China’s Guangxi province Photograph: Michael Reynolds/EPA

Food shortage fears have prompted the Chinese government to suspend the reforestation of marginal arable land, a senior government official said today .

The sacrifice of a key environmental restoration project for crop production highlights the growing problem of feeding the world’s biggest population as cities expand into farmland and urban residents consume more meat and vegetables.