1. Environmental Issues of Africa

2. Clean Water Many do not have clean drinking water
Nile River is contaminated with human and industrial waste
Most people in Egypt live along it

3. Environmental Issue #1 Aswan High Dam
Allows Egypt year-round irrigation
Farmers grow crops 3x a year
Also used to produce electricity
The Nile no longer floods, leaving silt on the land

4. Environmental Issue #1 Irrigation and the Nile
Because of dam Nile does not flood
No silt (rich topsoil) is left on the farm lands
Farmers must use chemical fertilizers
Problems with fertilizers
Pollutes the rivers
Fertilizers have caused some parts to have high concentrations of salt
High salt land is no suitable for growing.

5. Environmental Issue #1 Niger River
Transportation route
Where it meets the sea it is called “Oil Delta”
Area is rich in oil
The river silt is good for growing

6. Environmental Issue #1 Congo River
Provides water for
Villages & towns
Irrigation
Fishing
Transportation
Much of the wood from the Rainforest comes down this river

7. Environmental Issue #2 Deforestation
Trees are important because
Produce oxygen -Paper
Maintain ground soil -Heat
Cool the ground -Building materials
Prevent erosion -Home for wildlife
Produce food
Fruit
animals

8. Environmental Issue #2 Deforestation
Cutting down trees in large amounts destroys the ecosystems
Some areas will never grow back
Kills wildlife and forces extinction
Cutting trees in savannas and rainforests

9. Environmental Issue #3 Desertification
Spreading of the desert
As trees are cut down they don’t grow back
The desert takes over
Less food is produced for the people
Resulting in famine (no food to eat)
Famine = starvation=death

10. Environmental Issue #3 Desertification
Deserts are taking over valuable farmland in the Sahel and the Savannas