1. The Region Today: Africa South of the Sahara
Chapter 22
The Region Today: Africa South of the Sahara

2. 1. The Economy Remain mostly agricultural
More than 2/3 of population involved in ag.
Most engage in subsistence farming, or small-scale agriculture which provides primarily for the family or village
Masai (Kenya) and Fulani (Nigeria) practice pastoralism, raising livestock
In forest areas, people practice shifting cultivation: farmers move every one to three years to find better soil
Also referred to as slash and burn, due to method of cutting forest, burning to enrich soil with ash
Once soil is depleted, move

3. Agriculture
Others depend on sedentary farming, or agriculture conducted on permanent settlements
Small percentage works at commercial farming, large scale.
Grow cash crops – grown and sold for profit
Largely foreign owned plantations
Palm oil, peanuts

4. Zimbabwe: Conflict Over the Land
Zimbabwe – white farmers, less than 1 percent of pop, own 70 percent of land
Land reform movement led by Mugabe has led to violence, people taking over large plantations without compensating owners

5. Meeting Challenges
Much land affected by overgrazing, and overworking soil
Erosion, desertification
Food production low
New methods include conservation farming, land management strategies, protection of land, crop rotation

6. Mining Resources
Witwatersrand, gold deposit 300 miles long, makes South Africa the world’s largest producer of gold
SA also leader in production of gems and diamonds
SA one of region’s richest countries
Most mines owned by foreigners

7. Industrialization
Most countries lack infrastructure, resources such as trained workers, facilities, equipment
Educational systems still developing
Lack education leads to lack of skilled workforce
Civil war, conflict, corruption interrupt economic development

8. Transportation
Region has few natural harbors for boat mooring, some rivers are not navigable
Many countries in region consider roads and railroads a top priority
Still developing, must cross vast distances, many projects in the works
Similar problems hold back development: civil war, corruption, lack of funds

9. Communications Region has relied on radio Largely government owned
Low literacy rates often limit use of newspapers for communication
Telephone service often limited due to lack of phone lines, cell towers
Only 20 internet and 84 telephone users per 1000 in region
Slows rate of commerce

10. 2. Managing Resources
Famine (food shortages) affects many parts of Africa
Caused by drought, civil war, etc.
Over 31 million people are in desperate need of food aid

11. Desertification Though dry, the Sahel was once more fertile
Drought and people and animals have stripped the land of vegetation, good soil
As a result, Sahara desert is creeping south in to Sudan, Niger, Chad, Mali, etc.
In this region, carrying capacity, or the number of people the land can support, is being exceeded
Look at map of carrying capacity on p. 565, areas in dark green already exceed cc

12. Conflict and Hunger Conflicts halt economic growth
Refugees fleeing to neighboring countries strain already meager food resources
Somalia, without a government since 1991, fighting severely hampers food distribution both from farming and from international aid

13. Conflict and Hunger Sudan, approximately 6 million in need of food
Majority subsistence farm, vulnerable to periodic drought
Civil war for two decades has created largest refugee population in the world
Rebel groups have taxed aid agencies, forcing many to leave
UN categorizes as world’s worst humanitarian crisis
Peace essential to curing food shortages

14. Farming in Peace: Eritrea Case Study
Eritrea, crops abundant
Ethiopia and Eritrea went to war over shared border
People lost homes, lives
Followed by severe drought
Relief workers (Red Cross, Doctors without Borders) today are trying to nurse the area back to health

15. Human Impact: Tropical Forests
126 million acres have disappeared (2000)
Slash and burn, logging, population growth, etc.
Some countries have created reserves to protect forests

16. Endangered Animals
Deforestation destroys animal habitat, or living areas
Many species face extinction, disappearance from earth
Infringement of farmers, cities, population growth, sprawl
Poaching, illegal hunting, diminishing numbers
Elephant numbers have dropped from 2 million in 1970’s to 600,000, largely due to poaching
Also at risk: mountain gorilla, zebra, rhinoceros

17. Ivory Trade In 1930, 5 to 10 million elephants, estimate
Over last century, killed by tens of thousands
For: meat, sport, ivory
Price of ivory soared in 1970’s, hunting soared as well
As many as 80,000 per year killed
In 1989, placed on endangered species list, trade in ivory banned, hunting banned
1997, ban lifted so that Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe could, supposedly, sell stockpiles to Japan
Some suspected more elephants were being killed

18. Challenges for Future
Taking steps toward better farm practices, protecting environment, resources
Democratic political reforms taking place in some countries (Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia)
New laws allow crocodile farming, lucrative, has brought population back from low number due to hunting
Rhino and elephants coming back due to protection by stricter laws
Creation of game reserves, increases millions of tourists, brings income
Ecotourism, tourism based on concern for environment has become big business