Environmental Issues in Africa

Water: pollution & distribution

Soil and Deforestation

Desertification

Final Statement

The environment is directly related to the economic success of a country. Water affects all aspects of a country’s economy. It is needed for agriculture (Crops), trade success (Coastline) , industry (Operate Machinery and create products), and the workforce (Clean drinking water).

Water Issues

• Pollution- due to pesticides, fertilizers, human waste, mining, and manufacturing.

• Half of the hospital patients in Africa are due to unclean drinking water.

• This impacts the economy by reducing the workforce.

• With population increase, clean drinking water decreases.

Other Water Facts

• Only 47% of people in sub-Saharan Africa have access to safe drinking water.

• Industry is not the primary cause of water pollution in Africa.

-Natural problems- snails, worms, insect larvae, & other parasites.

-These organisms cause waterborne diseases which reduce life-

expectancy, lessen the quality of life, and decrease economic growth.

What Does Polluted Water Do?

• Harms the fishing industry• Ruins the land- There is an average of two

oil spills a day in Nigeria.• While a country benefits from income

generated by industry, it suffers due to pollution created by the industry.

Water- A Shrinking Supply• Few places in

rural Africa have plumbing or water purification.

• Women and children walk daily to the nearest stream to collect water….. One bucket at a time.

Facts

• Climate change, deforestation, and population growth have contributed to a water imbalance.

• Agriculture used to get 88% of the water supply. Since many are moving to the cities, water is being diverted there.

• Irrigation systems are in need of repair• Lake Chad has shrunk 95% in the last 40

years.

Facts• There is a tug of war between urban

populations and farmers.

• Since the bulk of trade in Africa is with countries outside of the continent, Landlocked countries are the poorest.

Soil Deforestation• Nearly 90% of

coastal rainforests in West Africa have been cut down since the 1900’s.

• In the 1990’s, 13 million acres of African forest logged.

• This causes erosion and loss of nutrients.

• Erosion has harmed 75% of Africa’s soil

The Sahara- Getting Larger

• Between the Sahara Desert and the rainforests is the Sahel.

• This is a grassland area that has been affected due to poor farming practices, land clearing, overgrazing livestock, and drought.

Sahara and Sahel

Cause and Effect of Unequal Water Distribution

Issue Cause Effect

Not enough water for irrigation

Problems with trade

Problems with Industry

Not enough clean drinking water

Cause and Effect of Unequal Water Distribution

Issue Cause Effect

Not enough water for irrigation

Cities consume it Farming suffers; less food to trade

or eat

Problems with trade

Countries with no coastline trade

less

Economy suffers; less growth

Problems with Industry

Industries need water

Industries do not grow if they don’t

have water

Not enough clean drinking water

People and animals get sick

Hurts economy