Africa's Physical Geography and Development impact 06/04/09

Physical Geography and Development Old theory of environmental determinism disputed but….environment matters Most people live in drier areas Few natural harbors Few navigable rivers Agriculture is important Natural resources Environmental challenges and change 06/04/09

Old theory of environmental determinism disputed but….environment matters

Most people live in drier areas

Few natural harbors

Few navigable rivers

Agriculture is important

Natural resources

Environmental challenges and change

Africa’s Climate and Biogeography Dynamics of Climate Climatic Regions The relationship between climate and Africa’s People Ecosystem and African Biomes Ecological concerns 06/04/09

Dynamics of Climate

Climatic Regions

The relationship between climate and Africa’s People

Ecosystem and African Biomes

Ecological concerns

Climate Altitude and Relief Vegetation changes Higher elevation and settlement Spotty rains in some places Irrigation concerns Cloud cover and dust Dust storms from the Sahara Varies by region 06/04/09

Altitude and Relief

Vegetation changes

Higher elevation and settlement

Spotty rains in some places

Irrigation concerns

Cloud cover and dust

Dust storms from the Sahara

Varies by region

Climate Regions (p 77) Equatorial Heavy rainfall, little dry season Monrovia, Calabar Humid Tropical Slightly less rainfall, but hotter Kampala 06/04/09

Equatorial

Heavy rainfall, little dry season

Monrovia, Calabar

Humid Tropical

Slightly less rainfall, but hotter

Kampala

Climate Regions (p 77) Tropical wet and dry Lengthy rainy and dry seasons Northern Hemisphere rainy season May and September Southern Hemisphere rainy season: November and March Tropical steppe Semi-arid zone 06/04/09

Tropical wet and dry

Lengthy rainy and dry seasons

Northern Hemisphere rainy season May and September

Southern Hemisphere rainy season: November and March

Tropical steppe

Semi-arid zone

Climate Regions (p 77) Desert Mediterranean Winter rain Temperate Southern and northern tips 06/04/09

Desert

Mediterranean

Winter rain

Temperate

Southern and northern tips

The relationship between climate and Africa’s People Historical climate change Sahara not always a desert Expanding Sahel New Climate change Africa at more risk because of poverty, increased risk of vector born diseases like Malaria, and little resources for effective response Largely dry areas to become even hotter and drier Coastal areas to flood. 06/04/09

Historical climate change

Sahara not always a desert

Expanding Sahel

New Climate change

Africa at more risk because of poverty, increased risk of vector born diseases like Malaria, and little resources for effective response

Largely dry areas to become even hotter and drier

Coastal areas to flood.

The relationship between climate and Africa’s People Climate and Human Development Increased vulnerability to subsistence farmers due to drought Changing climatic conditions mean high food prices for urban Africa and persistent poverty and underdevelopment Are these predictions coming true? Other competing explanations 06/04/09

Climate and Human Development

Increased vulnerability to subsistence farmers due to drought

Changing climatic conditions mean high food prices for urban Africa and persistent poverty and underdevelopment

Are these predictions coming true?

Other competing explanations

Climate Change and armed conflict in Africa As the climate warns and dessert expands conflicts arise between groups in within Africa. Sudan’s conflicts, environmental degradation in the context of climate change Links to resource extraction: oil might float on water, but each is extracted “out of Africa” straining Africa’s environment and people Bore holes depleting ground water and issues of oil extraction and deforestation 06/04/09

As the climate warns and dessert expands conflicts arise between groups in within Africa.

Sudan’s conflicts, environmental degradation in the context of climate change

Links to resource extraction: oil might float on water, but each is extracted “out of Africa” straining Africa’s environment and people

Bore holes depleting ground water and issues of oil extraction and deforestation

Ecosystem and African Biomes Eco-System-“System” relationship of energy between biotic and abiotic, mostly tropical in Africa 06/04/09

Eco-System-“System” relationship of energy between biotic and abiotic,

mostly tropical in Africa

Ecosystem and African Biomes Bionome- region where climate, vegetation, fauna, and soils characterized by uniformity. Characteristics generally correspond Not exact boundaries Can change because of natural or human actions 06/04/09

Bionome- region where climate, vegetation, fauna, and soils characterized by uniformity.

Characteristics generally correspond

Not exact boundaries

Can change because of natural or human actions

Africa’s Bionomes See Table, Map 6.1 86-87 Tropical Rain forest Moist woodland savanna Dry parkland savanna Semidesert Desert Temperate grassland Montane 06/04/09

See Table, Map 6.1 86-87

Tropical Rain forest

Moist woodland savanna

Dry parkland savanna

Semidesert

Desert

Temperate grassland

Montane

Africa’s tropical Rain forests West Africa; Cameroon through Sierra Leone, Congo basin and Madagascar Oxisols-> few nutrients in soil and little organic matter caused by heavy “soil leaching” through heavy rainfall Shifting Cultivation main human use because of oxisoil and local people manage through IK Despite poor soil, greatest diversity of animal life due to high biomass 06/04/09

West Africa; Cameroon through Sierra Leone, Congo basin and Madagascar

Oxisols-> few nutrients in soil and little organic matter caused by heavy “soil leaching” through heavy rainfall

Shifting Cultivation main human use because of oxisoil and local people manage through IK

Despite poor soil, greatest diversity of animal life due to high biomass

Moist woodland savanna Guinea savanna-central Africa north of Equator; Miombo south central Africa Humid tropical climate; Miombo have wet and dry seasons Diverse soil type Oxisols and Ultisols leached in wetter regions Alfisols with high aluminum and iron somewhat leached with greater organic matter Agriculture limited to derived savannas of forest margins with set fires 06/04/09

Guinea savanna-central Africa north of Equator; Miombo south central Africa

Humid tropical climate; Miombo have wet and dry seasons

Diverse soil type

Oxisols and Ultisols leached in wetter regions

Alfisols with high aluminum and iron somewhat leached with greater organic matter

Agriculture limited to derived savannas of forest margins with set fires

Dry parkland savanna (Sudan Savanna) “ Safari” animal landscape Thin central African strip and east Africa Serengeti Plain Baobab tree Ustalfs type of Alfisol less leached Often has higher organic content 5-8 month dry season 06/04/09

“ Safari” animal landscape

Thin central African strip and east Africa

Serengeti Plain

Baobab tree

Ustalfs type of Alfisol

less leached

Often has higher organic content

5-8 month dry season

Semidesert (Sahel) Zone between Savanna and desert Heavy erosion from wind and water Desertification 06/04/09

Zone between Savanna and desert

Heavy erosion from wind and water

Desertification

Desert Sahara in north, Kalahari and Namib in the south Namib plants depend on frequent fogs (remember air masses) Aridisols with low organic content Stalinization calcification 06/04/09

Sahara in north, Kalahari and Namib in the south

Namib plants depend on frequent fogs (remember air masses)

Aridisols with low organic content

Stalinization

calcification

Temperate grassland (Veldt) High Plateau of eastern South Africa Similar to Iowa; dominated by grasses with tries only at rivers Deep and fertile soils (Alfisols) Basis of some of the planet’s most prosperous agriculture 06/04/09

High Plateau of eastern South Africa

Similar to Iowa; dominated by grasses with tries only at rivers

Deep and fertile soils (Alfisols)

Basis of some of the planet’s most prosperous agriculture

Mediterranean South African Cape and Mediterranean coast Hot dry summers with cool moist winters Xerophytic (drought resistant) vegetation Brownish colored soil with high natural fertility ((Alfisols(Xeeralfs)) 06/04/09

South African Cape and Mediterranean coast

Hot dry summers with cool moist winters

Xerophytic (drought resistant) vegetation

Brownish colored soil with high natural fertility ((Alfisols(Xeeralfs))

Montane East African mountains and other isolated mountain areas Vegetation zoned vertically Savanna -> Montane forest -> Bamboo forest -> Alpine tundra with ice at top Soil quality varies on zone 06/04/09

East African mountains and other isolated mountain areas

Vegetation zoned vertically

Savanna ->

Montane forest ->

Bamboo forest ->

Alpine tundra with ice at top

Soil quality varies on zone

Ecological concerns and Sustainable Alternatives Deforestation Desertification Human implications of and for environmental change Sustainable Alternatives 06/04/09

Deforestation

Desertification

Human implications of and for environmental change

Sustainable Alternatives

De-forestation Connected to climate change when oxygen not produced and carbon not stored Soil Erosion Tropical forests of West Africa and Madagascar under threat Development (roads, agriculture forestry endangers west African forests) 5 million h/a lost or .8% of total lost each year 06/04/09

Connected to climate change when oxygen not produced and carbon not stored

Soil Erosion

Tropical forests of West Africa and Madagascar under threat

Development (roads, agriculture forestry endangers west African forests)

5 million h/a lost or .8% of total lost each year

De/Re-forestation: continued Good news on IK and forest builders in Guinea Greenbelt Movement in Kenya: Wangari Maathai Started in Kenya for women’s empowerment and reforestation for better local environment (erosion prevention) Development, HR, Feminism, Environment GIScience connection to reforestation, http://www.greenbeltmovement.org/n.php?id=116 Won 2004 Nobel Peace Prize Climate, environment, development and conflict connection 06/04/09

Good news on IK and forest builders in Guinea

Greenbelt Movement in Kenya: Wangari Maathai

Started in Kenya for women’s empowerment and reforestation for better local environment (erosion prevention)

Development, HR, Feminism, Environment GIScience connection to reforestation, http://www.greenbeltmovement.org/n.php?id=116

Won 2004 Nobel Peace Prize

Climate, environment, development and conflict connection

Desertification 1970s Sahel drought and Desertification? Is it the process of land degradation or end result? Climate or Social practice change? Development and Desertification Kenya’s Rendille pastoral people pushed to cattle over goat, camel, and sheep by gov’t policy As a result overgrazing near water for cattle and continued poverty for Rendille Gov’t ignorance of IK and geography 06/04/09

1970s Sahel drought and Desertification?

Is it the process of land degradation or end result?

Climate or Social practice change?

Development and Desertification

Kenya’s Rendille pastoral people pushed to cattle over goat, camel, and sheep by gov’t policy

As a result overgrazing near water for cattle and continued poverty for Rendille

Gov’t ignorance of IK and geography

Human implications of and for environmental change in Development Dams, Development and Human Displacement in Africa Akosombo-Ghana-84,000 people displaced Kossou- Ivory Coast 85,000 people displaced Kainji-Nigeria-50,000 displaced 06/04/09

Dams, Development and Human Displacement in Africa

Akosombo-Ghana-84,000 people displaced

Kossou- Ivory Coast 85,000 people displaced

Kainji-Nigeria-50,000 displaced

Africa’s human loss due to environmental dumping Cote I’vore’s toxic dumps, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6231946.stm Dandora Dumping Site, Nairobi 06/04/09

Cote I’vore’s toxic dumps, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6231946.stm

Dandora Dumping Site, Nairobi

Sustainable Alternatives Agro-forestry- tree farming Alley cropping-planting crops between rows of leguminous shrubs Establishing shelterbelts and help communities to undertake tree planting projects help address related problems of fuel wood and desertification Importance of Greenbelt movement 06/04/09

Agro-forestry- tree farming

Alley cropping-planting crops between rows of leguminous shrubs

Establishing shelterbelts and help communities to undertake tree planting projects help address related problems of fuel wood and desertification

Importance of Greenbelt movement

Africa’s natural resources Extractive mineral resources Africa’s minerals and world economy Extraction: underdevelopment and conflict Water Flora and Fauna as natural resources 06/04/09

Extractive mineral resources

Africa’s minerals and world economy

Extraction: underdevelopment and conflict

Water

Flora and Fauna as natural resources

Africa’s mineral’s and the world economy Mining and mineral trading in pre-colonial Africa Iron, gold, copper, and tin mined for domestic utilitarian and ceremonial objects (see UI museum's Africa Art Collection) Some Iron making in East Africa, Nubia, Nok (Nigeria) by 700 BC Tran-Saharan Trade of salt 06/04/09

Mining and mineral trading in pre-colonial Africa

Iron, gold, copper, and tin mined for domestic utilitarian and ceremonial objects (see UI museum's Africa Art Collection)

Some Iron making in East Africa, Nubia, Nok (Nigeria) by 700 BC

Tran-Saharan Trade of salt

Africa’s mineral’s and the world economy: continued Colonial extraction South African Witwatersrand gold and Kimberley Diamonds Belgium Congo; Katanga copper, Congolese diamonds Angola, Sierra Leone, South West Africa (Namibia): Diamonds 06/04/09

Colonial extraction

South African Witwatersrand gold and Kimberley Diamonds

Belgium Congo; Katanga copper, Congolese diamonds

Angola, Sierra Leone, South West Africa (Namibia): Diamonds

Africa’s mineral’s and the world economy: continued Post colonial Extraction Some new mining I.e. Diamonds in Botswana Black Gold (Oil): Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, and southern Sudan, maybe Ghana? 06/04/09

Post colonial Extraction

Some new mining I.e. Diamonds in Botswana

Black Gold (Oil): Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, and southern Sudan, maybe Ghana?

Africa’s mineral’s and the world economy: continued What and Where (Map p330) Metals Gold-South Africa’s Transvaal, Ghana, Zimbabwe, and DRC, Mali Copper: Zambia, DRC, Botswana, Zimbabwe Managnese: Gabon and Ghana Iron Ore: South Africa, Mauritania, Algeria, Zimbabwe, Morocco Industrial minerals Diamonds: S.A., Botswana, Namibia, Angola, DRC, Tanzania, CAR, Ghana, and Sierra Leone 06/04/09

What and Where (Map p330)

Metals

Gold-South Africa’s Transvaal, Ghana, Zimbabwe, and DRC, Mali

Copper: Zambia, DRC, Botswana, Zimbabwe

Managnese: Gabon and Ghana

Iron Ore: South Africa, Mauritania, Algeria, Zimbabwe, Morocco

Industrial minerals

Diamonds: S.A., Botswana, Namibia, Angola, DRC, Tanzania, CAR, Ghana, and Sierra Leone

Black Gold and other mineral fuels Black Gold-Nigeria, Angola, Congo-Brazzaville, Gabon, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan now Chad too. Ghana? Natural Gas where there is oil, but high development costs and cheap Russian competition inhibit African natural gas industry Coal- South Africa 06/04/09

Black Gold-Nigeria, Angola, Congo-Brazzaville, Gabon, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan now Chad too.

Ghana?

Natural Gas where there is oil, but high development costs and cheap Russian competition inhibit African natural gas industry

Coal- South Africa

Africa’s Minerals and the World Economy: Continued $50 billion in minerals extracted each year with most of it exported Extraction wealth in Nigeria, South Africa, Botswana, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea Africa losing market share because of accessibility of former USSR in ’90s and recent instability in countries of extraction, but still has large amounts of mineral wealth 06/04/09

$50 billion in minerals extracted each year with most of it exported

Extraction wealth in Nigeria, South Africa, Botswana, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea

Africa losing market share because of accessibility of former USSR in ’90s and recent instability in countries of extraction, but still has large amounts of mineral wealth

Mining and Underdevelopment Dependency on exporting primary commodities except industrialized South Africa where processing is done But South Africa’s industrialization propped up by Apartheid's low wages Profits from extraction invested “out of Africa” with no value added in Africa Only low skill/low pay employment gained Health (HIV, enviro-health), environmental, and community costs greater than gain for community Mineral Looting and “Conflict Diamonds” Angola, Sierra Leone, Liberia, DRC 06/04/09

Dependency on exporting primary commodities except industrialized South Africa where processing is done

But South Africa’s industrialization propped up by Apartheid's low wages

Profits from extraction invested “out of Africa” with no value added in Africa

Only low skill/low pay employment gained

Health (HIV, enviro-health), environmental, and community costs greater than gain for community

Mineral Looting and “Conflict Diamonds”

Angola, Sierra Leone, Liberia, DRC

Mining and Underdevelopment: continued Mineral Looting and “Conflict Diamonds” Angola, Sierra Leone, Liberia, DRC Social and Health effects of migrant labor in extraction Broken families HIV/AIDS 06/04/09

Mineral Looting and “Conflict Diamonds”

Angola, Sierra Leone, Liberia, DRC

Social and Health effects of migrant labor in extraction

Broken families

HIV/AIDS

Africa’s Water Resources Quenching Africa’s human thirst Rarely used for transport (few navigable rivers) Energy resources from hydro-electricity Akosombo in Ghana Kariba on Zambia/Zimbabwe Inga in DRC Cabora Bassa- Mozambique Irrigation 06/04/09

Quenching Africa’s human thirst

Rarely used for transport (few navigable rivers)

Energy resources from hydro-electricity

Akosombo in Ghana

Kariba on Zambia/Zimbabwe

Inga in DRC

Cabora Bassa- Mozambique

Irrigation

Africa’s water resources: continued Fisheries Lake Victoria ecosystem destabilization Domestic and Industrial Use “ water, water, everywhere, but not in the pipes” Water resource and Gender disparities Poor pay more than rich who get piped water Water given toward industrial uses rather than for personal consumption 06/04/09

Fisheries

Lake Victoria ecosystem destabilization

Domestic and Industrial Use

“ water, water, everywhere, but not in the pipes”

Water resource and Gender disparities

Poor pay more than rich who get piped water

Water given toward industrial uses rather than for personal consumption

Africa’s Water Challenges Water Scarcity Cross border water disputes in arid areas, potential downstream conflicts over Nile, and Senegal rivers Trade offs between industrial and consumer use Water pollution Agricultural and mining runoff including phosphate nitrogen discharge creating plant growth Niger Delta’s oil pollution Raw sewage in drinking water Eco-system degradation Dam flooding Species loss; ie Lake Nukuru 06/04/09

Water Scarcity

Cross border water disputes in arid areas, potential downstream conflicts over Nile, and Senegal rivers

Trade offs between industrial and consumer use

Water pollution

Agricultural and mining runoff including phosphate nitrogen discharge creating plant growth

Niger Delta’s oil pollution

Raw sewage in drinking water

Eco-system degradation

Dam flooding

Species loss; ie Lake Nukuru

Flora and Fauna as economic resources Timber Industry Vegetation in domestic local economies and IK Fuelwood ¾ of Africa’s engery needs in both fire wood and charcoal Contributes to deforestation Solution in Greenbelt Fuana as Game meat Fauna as extractive products (Ivory Trade) Fauna and Tourism and connection to both conservation and colonial displacement practices 06/04/09

Timber Industry

Vegetation in domestic local economies and IK

Fuelwood

¾ of Africa’s engery needs in both fire wood and charcoal

Contributes to deforestation

Solution in Greenbelt

Fuana as Game meat

Fauna as extractive products (Ivory Trade)

Fauna and Tourism and connection to both conservation and colonial displacement practices

Indigenous people vs. Game reserve policies Wild life parks at expense of local people Continuation of displacement from land from colonialism Denies IK and early practices of living with environment. Wildlife co-management, but who has power? Do conservation practices further alienate Africans from their land and reinforce colonial power dynamics for western tourists? See map 362 06/04/09

Wild life parks at expense of local people

Continuation of displacement from land from colonialism

Denies IK and early practices of living with environment.

Wildlife co-management, but who has power?

Do conservation practices further alienate Africans from their land and reinforce colonial power dynamics for western tourists?

See map 362