Population explosion in Africa: further implications.

Abstract

A serious problem associated with the population explosion in Africa is the widespread degradation of vegetation and soils. Various factors such as climate, animal overgrazing, overcultivation, fires, and soil erosion contribute to the social and economic impact in some areas. An increase of droughts due to lack of precipitation has damaged grasslands. In addition, increased animal population due to animal disease control, increased water supply, and social custom of measuring wealth in terms of herd size cause near wastelands from overgrazing. Also, overcultivation of commercial crops due to an increasing population has accelerated soil erosion by allowing shorter fallow periods, which causes lower crop yields and soil deterioration. Firing woodlands and grasslands to suppress new woody growth is damaging soil as well as encouraging the growth of coarse grasses that have little value for grazing animals. The barren land due to firing causes soil erosion both by water and wind; a total estimated drift of dust from western Africa is 60 million tons/year. These conditions indicate that deterioration will continue resulting in lower carrying capacities and lower productivity from cultivated land.