160 likes | 468 Views
Environmental Issues in Africa. Water: pollution & distribution Soil and Deforestation Desertification. Final Statement.
E N D
Environmental Issues in Africa Water: pollution & distribution Soil and Deforestation Desertification
Final Statement The environment is directly related to the economic success of a country. Water affects all aspects of a country’s economy. It is needed for agriculture (Crops), trade success (Coastline) , industry (Operate Machinery and create products), and the workforce (Clean drinking water).
Water Issues • Pollution- due to pesticides, fertilizers, human waste, mining, and manufacturing. • Half of the hospital patients in Africa are due to unclean drinking water. • This impacts the economy by reducing the workforce. • With population increase, clean drinking water decreases.
Other Water Facts • Only 47% of people in sub-Saharan Africa have access to safe drinking water. • Industry is not the primary cause of water pollution in Africa. -Natural problems- snails, worms, insect larvae, & other parasites. -These organisms cause waterborne diseases which reduce life-expectancy, lessen the quality of life, and decrease economic growth.
What Does Polluted Water Do? • Harms the fishing industry • Ruins the land- There is an average of two oil spills a day in Nigeria. • While a country benefits from income generated by industry, it suffers due to pollution created by the industry.
Water- A Shrinking Supply • Few places in rural Africa have plumbing or water purification. • Women and children walk daily to the nearest stream to collect water….. One bucket at a time.
Facts • Climate change, deforestation, and population growth have contributed to a water imbalance. • Agriculture used to get 88% of the water supply. Since many are moving to the cities, water is being diverted there. • Irrigation systems are in need of repair • Lake Chad has shrunk 95% in the last 40 years.
Facts • There is a tug of war between urban populations and farmers. • Since the bulk of trade in Africa is with countries outside of the continent, Landlocked countries are the poorest.
Soil Deforestation • Nearly 90% of coastal rainforests in West Africa have been cut down since the 1900’s. • In the 1990’s, 13 million acres of African forest logged. • This causes erosion and loss of nutrients. • Erosion has harmed 75% of Africa’s soil
The Sahara- Getting Larger • Between the Sahara Desert and the rainforests is the Sahel. • This is a grassland area that has been affected due to poor farming practices, land clearing, overgrazing livestock, and drought.