SS7G2
The student will discuss environmental
issues across the continent of Africa.
b. Explain the relationship between poor
soil and deforestation in
Sub-Saharan Africa.
The Sahel is an area of Africa south of the
Sahara Desert. It’s an example of how poor
farming practices and the destruction of trees
and shrubs can lead to an expanding desert.
Above: The wind easily erodes the soil because there is little
vegetation. The landscape is brown and desolate for most of
the year. Loose sand even moves onto the road.
Most historians believe that the Sahel was
once rich farmland. Centuries of farming and
grazing along with less rainfall have gradually
damaged land in the Sahel. Millions of people
struggle to farm in its poor soil.
Above: The end result of land degradation. These photos
show completely degraded land in northern Darfur, Sudan
just outside a large refugee camp.
Deforestation is the destruction of trees and
other vegetation. This continues to be a
problem in the Sahel and elsewhere in Africa.
Above: (Left) Aerial view of erosion in Madagascar due to
deforestation; (Right) Illegal logging in Madagascar.
Animals have been allowed to graze too heavily
in an area and have stripped all of the
vegetation from the soil. People who need fuel
or who hope to clear new farmland have cut
down the trees that help hold the soil in place.
Above: (Left) Photo of felled emergent canopy tree in Gabon;
(Right) Portions of the savanna burned for game hunting purposes
Droughts, or long periods of time with
little rainfall, have hurt the Sahel, too. The
people who live in these areas often face
starvation and poverty. Many move into urban
areas hoping to find work, but most
find only poverty.
Below: Traditional guards gather in the village of Kournaka, southern Niger
In recent years, the United Nations and the
World Food Bank have come to the aid of those
living in parts of the Sahel. They have worked
hard to find solutions to help people survive and
live a better life.
Below: Some 3.6 million people in Somalia depend on
humanitarian assistance.