Environmental issues in Southern Africa

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For more about the region: South Africa

Many environmental problems affect South Africa because of the urbanization and measures needed to survive. South Africa is the southern region of the African continent. It consists of countries such as: Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Lesotho is surrounded by South Africa (in the center of South Africa). Through keeping efforts with the developing world, and striving to meet the high demands of population growth, South Africa has spent a lot of resources causing severe environmental damage. The Logs of South Africa, and the crops are at the core of their economies, and the region becomes dependent on these resources. The continuous depletion and undue treatment of their natural resources has brought South Africa into a country where they are only damaging their environment.

Some of the environmental problems affecting South Africa are: water pollution, air pollution, land degradation, solid waste pollution, and deforestation. Environmental damage not only affects the health of the population, but also the species living in the area, while also contributing to climate change issues around the world.

Video Environmental issues in Southern Africa

Water Pollution (supply)

For more about: Water supply and sanitation in South Africa

One of South Africa's biggest problems is the lack of clean water. According to the UN Convention on Climate Change in South Africa in 2000, water around Africa was not evenly distributed, which means that 60% of the water is only in 20% of the land. Less than 10% of South African surface water is accessible and due to the fact that most of their groundwater lies beneath large rock formations, groundwater becomes difficult to access as well. Climate change and its associated effects on temperature and precipitation may have additional effects.

Many Africans move to rural areas, adding to the already high water demands and while demands are increasing drastically, fresh water supplies remain limited. Adding to the high demands, the Durban dam has declined by 20% since 2010, and up to 30% of water has been stolen or illegally supplied through international trade. "The review of water availability in 1996 estimated that the total average annual surface runoff was 150 million cubic meters, the maximum annual yield potential of the system was 33 290 million cubic meters, and the total annual water demand was 20,045 million cubic meters. 50% by 2030 (Department of Water and Forestry, 2000a). "

Although South Africa has one of the best, clean water from all countries in South Africa, many do not have access to basic sanitation. Most of the accessible water in South Africa is unclean, making water susceptible to waterborne diseases. Water-borne diseases such as Hepatitis A and Hepatitis E increase, while some water becomes soiled that diseases such as: typhoid fever, leptospirosis, Schistosomiasis, and Bilharzia are transmitted by water contact.

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Causes of water pollution

Urbanization

As the population of people moving to urban areas increases, demand for food supplies also increases. In order to meet this high demand, the use of fertilizer and waste pollution also tends to increase. Nitrates and phosphates found in fertilizers and waste wastes cause eutrophication, which is harmful to other species in the environment. Eutrophication increases algal blooms, which can lead to diseases such as: diarrhea, dental fever, skin rash, vomiting, fever, gastroenteritis, muscle and joint pain, and eye irritation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_issues_in_Southern_Africa 01/03/2018

Oil spill

South Africa is located at the tip of South Africa. This location causes South Africa to be particularly vulnerable to oil spills. High levels of oil are transported from the Middle East to Europe and America along the coast, making South African water and ecosystems at risk of being severely damaged.

Coal mining

Coal mining is one of South Africa's main energy sources, but has a huge negative impact on water quality, air and land on land. The acid mine drainage is the result of excessive coal mining taking place. Sulfuric acid is released from coal mining, and although the generalization process is slow, the time it takes to neutralize the acid is just as slow. When clean, excess water is released from the rock mass being damaged through mining, it is mixed with sulfuric acid which causes the water to become toxic. It is toxic, contaminated water kills plants and animals, while also dissolving aluminum and heavy minerals found in clean water (increasing toxicity levels). Although rocks containing calcium carbonate are able to neutralize acidic water, South Africa has no rocks containing these minerals.

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Air pollution

In this developing region, low grade fuels are used to meet high demand for food and energy. SO ₂ and CO ₂ are released in the air, and due to deforestation and increasing air pollution, air pollution in the atmosphere is slowly increasing.

During the winter, pollutants are trapped in the air by high pressure, and can not move or disappear. In summer, due to low pressure, the pollutants will disappear through an unstable circulation. Many women also cook indoors with fossil fuels, which is a major cause of health problems in women and children.

75.2% of South Africa's energy comes from the Highveld Region, where 5 of 10 Eskom Power Stations are the largest in the world. The high area is above sea level, making the oxygen level 20% lower than the oxygen level at the beach. This results in incomplete burning of fossil fuels, and severe inversions of night temperatures occur; which produces smoke trapped in the air of 860 tons of SO ₂ generated from 3 of their main power plants (Matla, Duvha and Arnot), "which exceeds exposure to the World Health Organization (WHO) [standard particulates] standard 180 mg.m-3 by 6 to 7 times during winter (Annegarn et al. 1996 a, b) ". This high concentration of air pollution surrounds the area so it is very dangerous for one's health.

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Solid waste pollution

With an increase in population, and an increase in people moving to urban areas, the amount of waste generated increases. The Department of Environment and Tourism of South Africa estimates that more than half of South Africa's population lacks solid waste treatment, instead, waste is often discarded, buried or burned.

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Deforestation

Along with the population trend, South Africa's demand for land also increased, contributing directly and indirectly to deforestation. Deforestation rates in South Africa were larger than in other parts of Africa in the 1990s and are predicted to remain high. because South Africa's degradation also tends to lose large areas of population settlements in, for example in one of South Africa's Gauteng provinces, as one of the most populous provinces suffered many natural disasters due to uncontrollable power. Here in this province people are always looking for residential areas and the area is inhabited to prolong that there is not enough room for plantations.

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Soil degradation

With less water and high demand for agriculture, South Africa's soil becomes less fertile. Climate change has also led to an increase in water evaporation from the soil, making it extremely difficult to produce in South Africa. Africa itself is located in an area where climate is unpredictable, making them vulnerable to climate change and while South Africa is semi-arid, it puts them at risk of desertification.

Desertification causes increased soil erosion, making it difficult for plants to grow. This will lead to unsustainable food, and endanger South African wildlife. Through time, soil erosion will produce foreign crops. Foreign plants threaten native plants and reduce grazing areas, which contribute to soil erosion.

The land of South Africa has been too trimmed and crushed by the un-distributed land in Africa. With a combination of foreign plants and the depletion of their land, the degraded land of South Africa can not be repaired. Many countries use irrigation methods as a way to prevent desertification and drought. Unfortunately, only 4% of Sub-Saharan Africa is equipped for irrigation. With reduced rainfall, and the lack of irrigation, the soil and soil of South Africa will soon become dry.

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See also

• Environmental issues in South Africa
• Water in Africa

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References

Source of the article : Wikipedia