Environmental Issues in Africa October 20, 2014

Environmental Issues Africa faces many different types of environmental issues Lack of water Poor soil quality Expanding deserts

Lack of Water Much of Africa has trouble having enough water for people to live Much of the continent is desert, dry grassland, or semi-dry grassland Some countries have poor harvests, little grazing land for animals, and little clean water for drinking Countries that have large river systems (Niger, Nile, or Congo) usually have enough for farming and everyday needs However, water pollution is becoming a big problem for those river systems

Issues with the Nile River system Most Egyptians live along the banks of Nile River It is used as a water source and for transportation The Aswan High Dam, which was built on the Nile in 1970, has allowed farmers to irrigate their fields with water from the Nile However, it is increasing becoming polluted by both industrial waste and chemical fertilizers Not only do the fertilizers pollute the water, but they develop salt in the soil Salted soil will not grow crops

Issues with the Niger River system The Niger River provides water to people living in the Sahel It is also used as a transportation route The mouth of the Niger, on the Gulf of Guinea in Nigeria, is a rich oil field Although this oil provides money to Nigeria’s government, it pollutes the water

Issues with the Congo River system The Congo River provides water for towns and villages in Congo, a fishing industry, and a transportation route to the center of Africa When trees are cut down in the tropical rainforest, they are transported along the river The government of Congo tends to ignore any pollution issues with the river because it provides money to the government

Deforestation Deforestation is the destruction of trees and other vegetation This is a big problem in the Sahel and Congo River Basin By cutting down trees and other vegetation, it allows the desert to expand This process is known as desertification Desert soil is not good for growing crops so people who live in these areas cannot get enough food

Desertification Desertification is the process of the desert expanding into areas that had formerly been farmland As the land is overused or trees are cut down, the soil becomes poor and powdery Recent droughts (a period of little rainfall) have not helped the situation This process is happening in the Sahel, the rainforests of Central and West Africa, the Kalahari Desert, and East Africa

Questions 1. How does a lack of water affect some countries in Africa? 2. What is becoming a problem for many of the large river systems in Africa? 3. What is the Nile River used for? 4. Why is the Nile River becoming polluted? 5. What is the Niger River used for? 6. What is the causing the pollution of the Niger River? 7. What is the Congo River used for?

Questions 8. Why does the Congo government ignore pollution problems with the river? 9. What is deforestation? 10. Where is deforestation a problem? 11. What is desertification? 12. Where is the desertification process happening?