African Environmental Challenges

Water Pollution – dirty water from factories and human/animal waste Don’t have enough clean water (Nile, niger, and congo rivers are very important to all who live near) Factories, fertilizers, oil spills, and people pollute Water Produces disease, environmental damage

Unequal distribution of Water Not enough access to water/rivers for population Water is needed for agriculture Polluted water from both industrial and natural waste make the need for clean water even greater Local / Regional Conflict caused by Dams on Rivers

Poor Soil & Deforestation Need for jobs / need for wood products Expanding population – need for habitable land forest cleared for farms /used for overgrazing Droughts (little rainfall) limits nutrients / hurts soil Expansion of the sahel leads to Desertification African Ecosystem impacted

Desertification 1/3rd of Africa is involved Deforestation contributes to the problem: Poor soil due to poor farming techniques barriers removed + Drought = Wind erosion Land overused – powdery soil blows away Leads to less food, migration by population Expanding Sahara, Kalahari + Shrinking Savana and rain forest = Less living space for all

Superhero Project Directions for Superhero: Create a superhero to fix one of the environmental problems in Africa. (picture needs to include details), Name and what he/She fixes. Or create a public service announcement addressing one of the issues. Today, you should figure out what environmental problem you want to address. Then brainstorm ideas for your superhero or psa. The superhero should have a strength (powers) , a weakness, an enemy (a bad guy or gal), and a colorful uniform.