1. Environmental Issues in Africa
SS7G2: The Student will discuss environmental issues across the continent of Africa.
Explain how water pollution and the unequal distribution of water impact irrigation, trade, industry, and drinking water.
Explain the relationship between poor soil and deforestation in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Explain the impact of desertification on the environment of Africa from the Sahel to the rainforest.

2. Polluted Water: Unfit to Drink
Water Pollution is a problem in African Countries.
Pesticides, fertilizers, human waste
Mining and manufacturing byproducts

3. Water Pollution Consumption of polluted water causes illness.
Negative effect on the economy.
When people are sick, they don’t work.
In rural areas, 1 million children die yearly
Many humanitarian efforts provide
clean water for African Countries.
Population growth decreases the amount of clean water.

4. Water Pollution Polluted water negatively effects the fishing industry
Kills the fish, makes them unfit to eat
Oil spills contribute to water pollution.
Affects trade by ruining land for farming and water for fishing.
Niger River Delta
One of the most polluted places on earth.

5. Water Pollution
Although some African Countries have industry generated income, the benefits of the businesses are cancelled out by the cost of water pollution.

6. Water Pollution
Few places in Africa can purify the drinking water or have plumbing systems
Water gathered one bucket at a time
Fresh water is scarce in parts of Africa
Water supply is needed in cities as population increases in cities.
Irrigation is used in agriculture (capital investment)
Some systems are productive, while others are not

8. Deforestation
Deforestation: The loss of forest from cutting down too many trees.
What is the main cause of deforestation according to the pie chart above?
What % of deforestation is agriculture responsible for?
What is the smallest cause of deforestation?

9. Deforestation
Nearly 90% of the coastal rainforests in West Africa have been cut down since 1990s
Result: Deforestation
When trees are gone, nothing can hold soil in place.
Wind blows, rain pours, and remaining soil is eroded.
Nutrients washed away, sun bakes exposed soil
Leaving farmland unusable

10. Desertification Causes of Desertification - poor farming practices
Desertification: Process in which a desert
spreads and the soil loses its ability to hold water.
Causes of Desertification
- poor farming practices
- land clearing
-overgrazing of livestock
-draining of water for industrial or home use

11. Desertification
1960s a drought in the Sahel caused the Sahara to spread down into the Sahel
People, plants, and animals compete for water supply
Sahel is also attacked from the South
Poor agriculture
Slash and Burn in the Rainforest
Top soil blows away, sand dunes are created, vegetation suffocated
Harvest crops, until the soil is depleted and move on to a new area.

12. Review….. What are the 3 main environmental problems in Africa?
The loss of forest from cutting down too many trees is known as…..
Process in which a desert spreads and the soil loses its ability to hold water
What area in Africa is at the highest risk of Desertification?
What industry is most impacted by water pollution?
How do oil spills in the water affect agriculture and trade?