Africa: problems facing the continent
Stress, scarcity and degradation
Water stress and scarcity, and land degradation are major environmental issues in Africa, and the number of African countries facing these issues is rising.
Rising costs
The rising costs of water treatment, food imports, medical treatment and soil conservation methods are not only having a negative impact on Africa’s peoples but are also draining African countries of their economic resources.
Increasing pressure
Climate change, the exploitation of natural resources, pollution, the expansion of agriculture into marginal areas, and the clearance of natural habitats such as forests and wetlands have been the major driving forces behind land degradation. These lead to great pressure on Africa’s forests, savannahs, wetlands and marine habitats with a corresponding knock-on effect on biodiversity and biological resources..
