People and Their Environment: Southern Africa Managing Resources Poverty is the underlying reason behind the failure to manage resources as people struggle to survive. Commercial logging, poaching, and lack of access to clean water, are all serious issues. Shortages push groups already at odds with each other into deeper, and sometimes more violent, conflicts. Resource shortages can cause problems that lead to larger wars across political boundaries.

People and Their Environment: Southern Africa Human Impact Farmers’ policy of shifting cultivation, or planting a field for several years then abandoning it to clear a new field, begins to fail when the population begins to increase dramatically. Richer, more powerful groups often hoard natural resources, leaving less available to the poor. Most cities have not been able to handle the rapid population growth, leading to widespread disease as clean water and sanitation are often unavailable.

Many countries are working to combat the problems of the region. People and Their Environment: Southern Africa Addressing the Issues Many countries are working to combat the problems of the region. South Africa is one of only a few countries that built environmental rights into its constitution, showing its commitment to the cause. Governments have also adopted action plans and laws designed to increase sustainable resources and reduce pollution. Nongovernmental organizations are working directly with people to bypass corrupt officials.