Chapter 22

The Region Today: Africa South of the Sahara

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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