Environmental Issues in Africa

Desertification “Desertification is a silent, invisible crisis that is destabilizing communities on a global scale.” – United Nations

What is it? Desertification is when land that was previously arable (able to grow crops) transforms into desert as a result of one or more of the following factors: Deforestation – Humans cut down trees which can lead to animals overgrazing. Removes nutrients from the soil. Drought Over-grazing by animals Overuse of the land by humans – farming exhausts the soil

How does it affect people? Desertification leads to less food being produced due to arable land decreasing. This hits poor Africans who are farmers especially hard. This can lead to more poverty and drought. Can also lead to negative health effects on people due to large dust clouds forming. Loss of food productivity can lead to malnutrition and starvation in some cases.

Deforestation Deforestation is when forests are cleared away in order to use the land for other purposes. Tropical rain forests (like in the Democratic Republic of Congo) are targeted in particular. The reasons for deforestation include: logging for industry, farming, and using the wood for fuel.

Effects of Deforestation This practice is contributing to climate change, due to the amount of carbon dioxide being released into the air by cutting down trees. Loss of habitat by animals, some of which are extremely rare. Soil can be washed away due to not having trees to anchor it. This is known as soil erosion. This can lead to desertification. Silt can also enter lakes and rivers, affecting the quality of water, which contributes to our next environmental problem….

Water Inequality In some sub-Saharan African countries, it can take more than an hour to collect clean drinking water. Women and girls are the ones who mostly collect the water. Many countries in Africa experience drought or flooding, disrupting the livelihood of the people. Rivers, especially the Nile, are now polluted and contaminated with human and industrial waste

Water Inequality If people are lucky enough to find water, sometimes it is polluted with diseases and pathogens. This can make people sick and lead to loss of stability in the community. Adults cannot work and children cannot go to school. It can also lead to birth defects if pregnant women drink this water.