Environmental Issues and Interactions of Africa How we change the environment and how the environment changes us

Desertification

Important Fact: Over 70 % of the people living in sub-Sahara Africa are farmers

Overfarming Planting the same CROPS year after year takes the same minerals out of the soil and soon the good soil becomes very sandy and poor

Overgrazing Animals keep eating the grass and the grass doesn't have a chance to grow back. Eventually the grass dies and the SOIL becomes sandy.

Development Cutting down trees in rural land for streets, buildings, and homes ruins the soil. Trees help the soil to be fertilized. The roots hold the soil together. When the trees are cut down, there is less good soil.

Drought No rain causes the SOIL to dry out. The wind blows away the rich top soil leaving the sandy poor soil behind.

Real footage of desertification

Desertification spreading

Video about how to help What are people doing to help stop desertification

Formative checkpoint List the four causes of desertification Pretend you are a farmer in Burkina Faso. Describe in 2 complete sentences how desertification would negatively effect you. Ex. If I were a farmer in Burkina Faso, desertification would negatively impact me because…

Poaching

What is poaching? The illegal hunting of animals who are sometimes endangered Particularly elephants and rhinoceroses Using their body parts ( skin, tusks etc) for personal profit Ivory can sell for up to $27,000 a pound!

Why is poaching an issue? Many of the animals are endangered or at risk to become endangered Hurting the economy, because it effects tourism Many people come to these countries for ecotourism. Without animals, tourists will stop coming and people will lose their jobs as tour guide

Tug of War on Poaching Watch this videovideo Read the Safari Brochure Using both as evidence decide: Would you participate in a safari hunt why or why not? Does poaching really hurt the economy?

Oil and Diamonds

Fact: Africa has many valuable resources Gold: brings money and jobs to nations Oil: Brings money and jobs to nations Angola, Cameroon, Chad, Nigeria, N. & S. Sudan Diamonds: brings money and jobs to nations Namibia, Congo, Sierra Leone, Botswana

Problem: Corruption does not allow economic growth Africa has natural resources, but in some countries, groups of people fight over control of these resources and corruption occurs so not much can be done to stop it. Now due to fighting, people are not using the resources efficiently to help their country get money, they are using resources for themselves

OIL: ex. In Nigeria, government officials want the money from oil for themselves and oil companies want to influence politics ( work together for their own benefit, not the general population) Oil companies are causing pollution which hurts farmers and fisherman Some “bush refineries” or “oil pirates” are trying to tap into the oil and steal it to make money for themselves Video on Oil issues in Nigeria ( start at two minutes)Oil issues in Nigeria

Diamonds Cause conflict over who controls the mines. War lords will use the diamonds to fund their own personal armies. Ex. Sierra Leone has civil wars over control of diamond minesSierra Leone 25 things you should know about Blood Diamonds 25 things you should know about Blood Diamonds Trailer for Blood Diamond ( optional)Blood Diamond

Your challenge You are going to examine primary and secondary sources about OIL in Nigeria and DIAMONDS in Sierra Leone. Complete the chart Create your radio ad or your billboard ad for how people can prevent or help your issues