Environmental Issues in Africa

Environmental Issues in Africa

Overfishing

Fishing is one way for the Africans to get food and earn an income.

Overfishing is causing an imbalance in the food chain which is causing the bigger fish to die out. Also those who depend on the fish for food and money are having to move or find other trades.

Water Pollution

Air Pollution

Desertification

Habitat Loss

It is causing more premature deaths than unsafe water and malnutrition and could develop into more dangerous problems for them.

The main causes of water pollution are urbanization, deforestation, industrial processes, mining and agriculture.

85% of all diseases in African children under the age of 5 are from water.

The main habitat loss in Africa is growth. This includes economic, population, development, resource extraction, agriculture, and international growth. And Africa’s population is growing at least 8% each year.

Air pollution is causing hundreds of thousands of deaths each year in Africa and is causing more premature deaths than dirty water.

2/3 of Africa is desert or dry lands. However nearly ¾ of it has been desertified.

Some impacts of habitat loss are that the different animals will have to find new homes, they could possibly die out and the Africans would lose some sources of foods.

The impacts of water pollution are that it causes children and animals to get sick and die because there is no other water for them to drink.

Desertification causes a high risk of crop failure, a build-up of salt in the soil, and the accidental burning of dry vegetation.

Deforestation

Background:

Nuclear

Soil Degradation

Background:

90% of Africa uses wood for heating and cooking

Illegal logging is also a big issue but varies from country to country

Nigeria has the highest rate of deforestation of primary forests

Deforestation has taken out 90% of all Africa’s forests

Deforestation in Madagascar has caused has led to desertification

Impact

Backround

Coal

Can cause soil loss

Sediment block in rivers

Pollute bodies of water

Many countries in Africa wants to start building nuclear generators

Impact:

Background

Erosion caused by rains, rivers and winds and over-utilization have turned the soil infertile

Because the lack of fertilizers african soil lacks organic nutrients

Some ecological causes of the poor soil quality are because the soils is have rocks and clay from volcanic activity

Impact

93% of Africa's electricity comes from coal

Loss of habitat for many species

Contributes to climate change

Without trees blocking the sun forests can become deserts

Trees block sun rays during the day and hold in heat during the night which if trees were gone there would be more temperature swings which is bad for plants and animals

Trees absorb greenhouse gasses if there are no trees it contributes to global warming

Impact:

there is still no safe way to store nuclear waste and could affect the people

Africa does not have the technology or money to make safe effective nuclear generators

With most of Africa using coal for electricity it uses up the natural recources