African Challenges

In 2002, the United In 2002, the United Nations Nations Environment Environment Programme (Programme (UNEP) ) identified the identified the many challenges many challenges facing Africa.facing Africa.

Stress, scarcity Stress, scarcity and degradationand degradation

The increasing The increasing numbers of numbers of African African countries countries facing water facing water stress and stress and scarcity, and scarcity, and land land degradation, degradation, are major are major environmental environmental issues in the issues in the region.region.

TThe he PoorestPoorest NationNationssNation Nation Per CapitaPer Capita1.1. AfghanistanAfghanistan $125$1252. Sierra Leone2. Sierra Leone $510$5103. Ethiopia3. Ethiopia $600$6004. Somalia4. Somalia $600$6005. Congo5. Congo $600$6006. Eritrea6. Eritrea $710$7107. Tanzania7. Tanzania $710$7108. Burundi8. Burundi $720$7209. Rwanda9. Rwanda $900$90010. Malawi10. Malawi $900$90011. Mozambique 11. Mozambique $1,000$1,00012. Djibouti12. Djibouti $1,300$1,300

$6,538$6,538

19291929

$15,931$15,931

19671967

$25,989$25,989

19961996

$44,000$44,000

20062006

½ of the world’s ½ of the world’s population have yet population have yet to make their to make their first phone call.first phone call.

Of the 6.5 billion people on our planet; 5 billion 5 billion are in the Third Worldare in the Third World. Over ½½ the people of the people of Sub-Sahara AfricaSub-Sahara Africa live on less than $2 a dayless than $2 a day.

US GDP Per CaUS GDP Per Capitapita[in 1992 dolla[in 1992 dollars]rs]

The rising costs of water treatment, food imports, The rising costs of water treatment, food imports, medical treatment and soil conservation methods are medical treatment and soil conservation methods are not only having a negative impact on Africa’s peoples not only having a negative impact on Africa’s peoples but are also draining African countries of their but are also draining African countries of their economic resources.economic resources.

The darkest jungles of Africa that are so steeped The darkest jungles of Africa that are so steeped in myth, legend and tales, have untold stories and in myth, legend and tales, have untold stories and Scientific revelations only beginning to unfold.Scientific revelations only beginning to unfold.

In terms of their importance and value to the world, to man himself, the jungles of the Congo Basin should never be underestimated.

Congo BasinCongo BasinSince 1970 the world rhino population has declined by 90 percent, with five species remaining in the world today, all of which are endangered.

Slash-and-burn agricultureSlash-and-burn agriculture

Increase in Tropical Deforestation Around the World

The African continent is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change because of factors such as widespread poverty, recurrent droughts, inequitable land distribution, and overdependence on rain-fed agriculture.

Unit #5 AfricaUnit #5 Africa

DesertificationDesertification

Landsat image of sand dunes advancing on Nouakchott, Landsat image of sand dunes advancing on Nouakchott,

the capital of Mauritania.the capital of Mauritania.

The primary reasons for desertification are overgrazing, over-cultivation, increased fire frequency, water impoundment, deforestation, overdrafting of groundwater, increased soil salinity, and global climate change.

• This process is This process is currently affecting currently affecting the Sahel, a dry the Sahel, a dry grassland that runs grassland that runs along the southern along the southern

edge of the edge of the Sahara.Sahara.

DroughtDrought

ReconciliatiReconciliationon

A huge sculpture made out A huge sculpture made out of weapons has been of weapons has been unveiled at the British unveiled at the British Museum in London.Museum in London.

The Tree of Life was The Tree of Life was created with dismantled created with dismantled pistols, AK-47s and pistols, AK-47s and grenade launchers from grenade launchers from Mozambique. The arms Mozambique. The arms were decommissioned by were decommissioned by former child soldiers in former child soldiers in the country and the country and exchanged for building exchanged for building materials, bicycles and materials, bicycles and sewing machines. "The sewing machines. "The sculptures are a wonderful sculptures are a wonderful symbol of reconciliation symbol of reconciliation after conflict."after conflict."

ImpoverishedIn its four decades of In its four decades of independence, the independence, the Republic has found peace Republic has found peace but not prosperity. Zambia but not prosperity. Zambia is today one of the poorest is today one of the poorest and least developed and least developed nations on earth, and has nations on earth, and has a crippling national debt. a crippling national debt. Around two-thirds of the Around two-thirds of the population lives on less population lives on less than a dollar a day.than a dollar a day.

African health African health issuesissues

Nearly 90 million Africans could be Nearly 90 million Africans could be infected by HIV in the next 20 infected by HIV in the next 20 years if more is not done to combat years if more is not done to combat the epidemic, the UN has warned.the epidemic, the UN has warned.

"Millions of new infections "Millions of new infections can be prevented if Africa can be prevented if Africa and the rest of the world and the rest of the world decide to tackle Aids as an decide to tackle Aids as an exceptional crisis that has exceptional crisis that has the potential to devastate the potential to devastate entire societies and entire societies and economies," said UNAids economies," said UNAids chief Peter Piot.chief Peter Piot.

Health CareHealth Care• Making advances in health care• Famine, poor nutrition contribute to infant mortality• Impure water – 1/3 of rural Africans have clean water• ¼ of rural Africans live where there is adequate

sanitation• Malaria is widespread – carried by mosquitos

• HIV/AIDS at epidemic proportions in Africa

• A child is more likely to die in Zimbabwe of AIDS than anything else

• Treatments and medication is too expensive for most Africans and governments

• Potentially disastrous for populations of some countries

AIDS cuts African life expectancies

Zimbabwe: from 65 to 39 yearsBostwana: 62 to 40Burkina Faso: 55 to 46Burundi: 55 to 46Cameroon: 59 to 51Central African Republic: 56 to 49Republic of Congo: 57 to 47Congo: 54 to 49Ethiopia: 51 to 41Ivory Coast: 57 to 46Kenya: 66 to 48Lesotho: 62 to 54Malawi: 51 to 37Namibia: 65 to 42Nigeria: 58 to 54Rwanda: 54 to 42South Africa: 65 to 56Swaziland: 58 to 39Tanzania: 55 to 46Uganda: 54 to 43Zambia: 56 to 37

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

A.I.D.S. in Sub-Saharan Africa

HIV/AIDS orphansHIV/AIDS orphans

The HIV/AIDS epidemic is ravaging Zambia. The HIV/AIDS epidemic is ravaging Zambia. Nearly 1 million Zambians are HIV positive or Nearly 1 million Zambians are HIV positive or have AIDS. An estimated 100,000 died of the have AIDS. An estimated 100,000 died of the epidemic in 2004. Over a half-million Zambian epidemic in 2004. Over a half-million Zambian children have been orphaned. Life expectancy children have been orphaned. Life expectancy at birth is just under 40.at birth is just under 40.

HIV infectsSwaziland

For the first timeFor the first time Swaziland admits Swaziland admits that it has one of that it has one of the highestthe highest AIDS AIDS rates in the world, rates in the world, with almost 40% of adults infected with HIV. with almost 40% of adults infected with HIV. Prime Minister Themba Dlamini has declared a Prime Minister Themba Dlamini has declared a humanitarian crisis due to the combined effect humanitarian crisis due to the combined effect of drought and land degradation, increasing of drought and land degradation, increasing poverty and HIV/AIDS. poverty and HIV/AIDS.

LinksLinks• http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/Desertification/

desertification2.php• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desertification• http://www.africaaction.org/docs01/clim0102.htm• http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6092564.stm