G10 U3 - Natural Resource Base of Africa PDF

Unit Three Natural Resource Base of Africa UNIT THREE 3. NATURAL RESOURCE BASE OF AFRICA Introduction In the previous unit, you have carefull...

Unit Three Natural Resource Base of Africa UNIT THREE 3. NATURAL RESOURCE BASE OF AFRICA Introduction In the previous unit, you have carefully studied support in the form of both consumptive about the climate of Africa. In this unit ,you use and public-good services. However, the will study the natural resource base of Africa. sustainable and wise use of natural resources Therefore, this unit examines Africa’s natural is more important than the existence of the resources endowment. However, in order to resources. The major life sustaining resources better understand and give due attention to of the world are water, soil, forest, minerals, and natural resources, you will first identify the key oil. In this unit ,you will also study the major natural resources of the world. resource bases of Africa. Hence, the drainage Natural resources are parts of the environment basins of Africa, and its water resources, soils that people can extract and exploit. The and mineral resources, vegetation, and wildlife natural resources provide fundamental life of Africa will be discussed in detail. Unit Outcomes After completing this unit , you will be able to: identify key natural resources of the world; describe the main drainage systems and water resources of Africa; identify the major soil types and mineral resources of the continent of Africa; and assess the main vegetation and wildlife types of Africa. 47  Grade 10 | Geography Main Contents 3.1 OVERVIEW OF MAJOR NATURAL RESOURCES OF THE WORLD 3.2 MAJOR DRAINAGE AND WATER RESOURCES IN AFRICA 3.3 MAIN TYPES OF SOILS AND MINERAL RESOURCES IN AFRICA 3.4 MAJOR VEGETATION AND WILDLIFE OF AFRICA 🌐 Unit Summary 🌐 Review Exercise 3.1 OVERVIEW OF MAJOR NATURAL RESOURCES OF THE WORLD At the end of this section, you will be able to: describe the major natural resources of the world. 🔒 KEY TERMS մ Ecosystem services մ Nonrenewable resources մ Fixed amounts մ Oil մ Freshwater մ Renewable resources մ Natural resources մ Sustainable use Natural resources are parts of the environment that people can extract and exploit (use or manipulate to one’s advantage). People do not make natural resources. They gather natural resources. Natural resources are categorized into two – renewable and nonrenewable resources. Renewable resources can be replenished by natural processes as quickly as humans use them. Examples of renewable resources include sunlight and wind. Whereas nonrenewable resources are natural resources that exist in fixed amounts and can be used up sometime in the future. Examples include fossil fuels like petroleum and coal. 48 Unit Three Natural Resource Base of Africa Activity 3.1 1. Categorize the following resources into renewable and nonrenewable? Wood, water, iron, oil, hydroelectricity, uranium and, the energy of the wind and sun Renewable Nonrenewable Our planet has huge supplies of natural resources that we need to survive. However, our biggest challenge is to use resources without destroying or degrading the environment. Our quality of life and survival depends on our ability to use, rather than abuse the environment. Therefore, sustainable use of resources is very important. Sustainable use refers to the use of resources in a way and at a rate that does not lead to the long-term degradation of the environment, thereby maintaining its potential to meet the needs and aspirations of present and future generations. It is a way that meets the needs of the present and also preserves the resources for future generations. We need to practice the ideas and methods of Natural Resource Management (NRM) for sustainable use of resources. Natural resource management refers to the sustainable utilization of major natural resources such as land, water, air, minerals, forests, fisheries, and wild flora and fauna. Altogether, these resources provide the ecosystem services that provide better quality to human life. 49  Grade 10 | Geography Focus Key Strategies of Sustainable Natural Resource Management Sustainable management of resources involves effective utilization of the following key strategies. Þ Sustainable management of land resources; Þ Maintaining and enhancing water resources; Þ Conserving and recovering biodiversity; Þ Enhancing skills, capacity, and engagement of people; Þ Protecting and enhancing the marine and coastal environment; Þ Delivering high-quality planning that leads to effective action. 3.1.1 The Major Natural Resources of the world The Earth is blessed with different natural resources. However, there are a few selected natural resources that we rely on more than others. Natural resources provide fundamental life support in the form of both consumptive use and public good services. Consumptive use is the use of resources in ways that reduce supply. Examples include mining and logging in a forest. Public good is a good that benefits many people whether or not they have paid for it. Here is a list of natural resources that are extremely important to the existence of life on Earth. I. Water The first natural resource in the above list is water. Arguably, water is the most important of all natural resources. Without water, life would not be able to thrive on the Earth. About 71% of Earth’s surface is water and the oceans hold about 96.5% of that water. While it is technically a renewable resource, the amount of fresh or drinkable water is very small in amount. There is only about 2.5% freshwater from the total amount of water on Earth. Most of the freshwater cannot easily be accessed since it is found underground or in a form of ice and snow in remote areas. 50 Unit Three Natural Resource Base of Africa Activity 3.2 1. Why is water so important? Think about how many things in your daily life require water and list them below. In addition, water in seas and oceans is saline hence, it cannot be directly used for household use and drinking purposes. Of course, there are systems in place to purify non-drinkable water into water safe for consumption through filtration methods. Table 3.1: The Earth’s Water Resources Category Total volume Percent of Percent of (km3) total fresh World ocean 1,338,000,000 96.5 Groundwater (to 2,000 m) 23,400,000 1.7 Predominantly fresh groundwater 10,530,000 0.76 30.1 Soil moisture 16,500 0.001 0.05 Glaciers and permanent snow 24,064,100 1.74 68.7 Antarctica 21,600,000 1.56 61.7 Greenland 2,340,000 0.17 6.68 Arctic Islands 83,500 0.006 0.24 Mountain areas 40,600 0.003 0.12 Ground ice (permafrost) 300,000 0.022 0.86 Lakes 176,400 0.013 Freshwater 91,000 0.007 0.26 Salt water 85,400 0.006 Marshes 11,470 0.0008 0.03 Rivers 2,120 0.0002 0.006 Biological water 1,120 0.0001 0.003 Atmospheric water 12,900 0.001 0.04 Total water 1,385,984,610 100.00 Freshwater 35,029,210 2.5 100.00 51  Grade 10 | Geography In addition, climate change is affecting freshwater by reducing its availability for humans. Due to the changes in weather and increase in ice melt in the poles, precipitation patterns have been changing and reserves of freshwater are quickly disappearing. Activity 3.3 1. From the table above, extract freshwater sources of the world and discuss how scarce the resource is and what need to be done to effectively utilize the existing freshwater. Freshwater sources Measures for effective utilization II. Air Air is another important natural resource which every living thing needs. Air is more than oxygen. Air holds moisture which helps regulate temperature both on the surface and in humans. Meanwhile, oxygen is extremely important because every living thing needs oxygen to survive. Air also includes the atmosphere that is necessary for containing gases needed to keep the temperature of the Earth at a constant and warm enough to support life. Air also regulates the winds which are renewable resources. Windmills or turbines have been created to harness this energy and use it to generate electricity. However, breathable air is becoming more and more polluted. In some areas of the world air pollution is so great that people are forced to wear face masks so they do not breathe in any toxins. Air pollution can lead to many illnesses including cancer. There are many things that you can do to reduce air pollution most importantly by reducing the emission of carbon dioxide. Activity 3.4 1. Give some examples by which you can reduce air pollution. Fr 52 Unit Three Natural Resource Base of Africa III. Soil Soil as a resource, contains many minerals and nutrients that allow plants to grow. Therefore, it is important for the growth of plants and trees. Soil is also an agent of the nitrogen cycle. This is the process of taking nitrogen from the air and converting it into basic ingredients which let plants make their own food. Soil is another natural resource that is threatened by pollution. Soil pollution, caused by overgrazing, landfills, waste materials, fertilizers, pesticides, and other factors is a pressing issue for the land. It can result in low crop production, as well as plant life containing chemicals that are not ideal for human consumption. It can also result in desertification which means the land becomes barren and unable to support plant life. IV. Forest Trees help us in many ways. They produce oxygen, help to deal with the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and allow people to heat their homes. Moreover, forests are also home to incredible amounts of biodiversity, especially tropical rainforests. About 80% of the world’s species can be found in the tropical rainforests. Moreover, a lot of medicinal drugs are made of plants found in the rainforests. However, forests are being constantly threatened by deforestation. This is unwise destruction of trees by cutting them down. The reason for this deforestation is for lumber, clearing of land for plowing, and other causes such as illegal logging and forest fires, etc. If we are to continue to thrive on this Earth, we have to start treating forests carefully and plant more trees annually. V. Minerals Minerals are very important for industrialization. Rare minerals found within the Earth are the raw material for making electronics like computers and cellphones. Whereas, iron and other minerals are highly used for building and construction purposes. Minerals are either metallic – that can be melted to gain new products or nonmetallic – a combination of minerals that do not produce new products by melting them. Since minerals are nonrenewable resources, wise utilization or sustainable use of the resources is vital. Hence, reuse and recycling of the resources are the most common methods used in the world today. 53  Grade 10 | Geography Activity 3.5 1. What do you think is your role in the sustainable use of natural resources? What can you do to avoid wastage and unwise use? VI. Oil Oil is very essential natural resource. However, this is one of the very scarce non- renewable natural resources. It is the cause of pollution, wars and conflict in many parts of the world. However, it is also what powers our lives. Nearly all of our transportation and manufacturing industries rely on petroleum products. However, because we are almost reliant on oil, our rapid use has reduced the total amount of the resource by depleting it quickly. The general estimate is that the remaining reserves of oil will last possibly the next few decades. However, companies and governments are still pushing for fracking and drilling to continue at a rapid rate. If we want to hold on to the resource we have, we need to embrace other means of energy production. Shifting our reliability on renewable resources such as air, solar, and water is so important. There need to be a shift to green technology as well as diversification of economies of countries away from oil. 3.2 MAJOR DRAINAGE AND WATER RESOURCES IN AFRICA At the end of this section, you will be able to: describe the major drainage systems and water resources of Africa. 🔒 KEY TERMS մ Confluence մ The Congo Basin մ The Zambezi Basin մ Drainage Basin մ The Niger Basin մ Watershed մ Outlet մ The Nile Basin մ The Chad Basin մ The Orange Basin 54 Unit Three Natural Resource Base of Africa A drainage basin is an area of land where surface water from rain converges to a single point at a lower elevation. This usually appears at the exit of the basin, where the main river joins another water body such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean. Meanwhile, watershed refers to a divide that separates one drainage area from another drainage area. Other terms which are alternatively used to describe a drainage basin, are catchment, catchment area, catchment basin, drainage area, river basin and water basin. Drainage basin also consists of parts such as tributaries, confluences and an outlets. Figure 3.1: Drainage Basin and its Parts Focus The Major Drainage Basins of Africa Some of the world’s largest and longest rivers are found in Africa. The basins are: Þ The Nile Basin Þ The Congo Basin Þ The Niger Basin Þ The Zambezi Basin Þ The Orange Basin Þ The Chad Basin 55  Grade 10 | Geography Figure 3.2: Major Drainage Basins of Africa 3.2.1 The Nile Basin The Nile is about 6,650 kilometers long and it is the longest river in the world. Its main headstream rises from Lake Victoria of Tanzania and Uganda and makes the leftwing tributary called White Nile. While the rightwing tributary of the Nile originates in Ethiopia and contributes the largest amount of the Nile’s water. Eighty-six (86%) of Nile water comes from Ethiopia. The main right-bank tributaries are the Baro River, the Abbay (Blue Nile) River, and the Tekeze River. These rivers meet in Sudan and flow into Egypt, finally emptying into the Mediterranean Sea. The Blue Nile River flows into steep gorges in the Ethiopian Plateau and encounters swamps in South Sudan – the Sudd is the largest of the swamps which interrupts the river’s course. Joined with the White Nile at Sudan the Blue Nile forms the Nile River and flows into low-lying desert areas of Egypt. Therefore, if the water is equitably shared among the countries in the basin, the Nile has huge economic potential for every country in the basin. It could help generate hydroelectric power in Ethiopia, Congo, Tanzania and Uganda, and irrigation for Sudan and Egypt. 56 Unit Three Natural Resource Base of Africa Focus The Nile Basin Countries The Nile basins contains 11 countries, these are: Þ Ethiopia Þ Uganda Þ Sudan Þ Burundi Þ South Sudan Þ Democratic Republic of Congo Þ Egypt Þ Eritrea and Þ Rwanda Þ Kenya Þ Tanzania The Nile River has limited use for transportation in its lower course in South Sudan and Sudan. The upper courses of the Blue Nile and White Nile are not navigable because of the presence of rapids and waterfalls, and due to the annual fluctuation of the rivers. However, the upper course of the rivers has huge potential for the generation of hydroelectricity. Activity 3.6 1. What do you think the Nile Basin countries should do to equitably share Nile water? 3.2.2 The Congo Basin The Congo is the Earth’s second-largest river by volume in the world (next to the Amazon in South America). The Congo River is also the second-longest river in Africa, shorter than the Nile River only. It drains an area of 3.7 million square kilometers and extends for some 4,660 kilometers. The river drains the central and western portions of Africa, and finally empties into the Atlantic Ocean. The Congo basin consists of a vast shallow depression that rises by a series of giant steps to an almost circular rim of highlands through which the river has cut a narrow exit into the Atlantic Ocean. Its many waterfalls and rapids cause its valley, like that of the Nile, to lose elevation quickly. The river’s course is often constricted by gorges. The best-known is the Boyoma Falls at Kisangani, where the river swings through an 57  Grade 10 | Geography arc to flow westward. Figure 3.3: The Boyoma Fall in the Democratic Republic of Congo Downstream from Kisangani, the Congo is joined first by the Ubangi from the right and then by the Kasai from the left. The Congo enters the sea through a swampy estuary that is about 10 km wide at its mouth. The Congo is an important navigational system in Africa. Within the territorial limits of the Democratic Republic of the Congo alone, there are some 14,000 km of navigable waterways. Unlike other rivers of Africa, the Congo is accessible in all seasons due to its high volume of water content. In addition, because large sections of the river basin lie above and below the equator, its flow is stable, with at least one river experiencing a rainy season. Hence, river transport remains essential for communications with regions that are inaccessible by road transport. The Congo River’s hydroelectric potential is estimated at 100,000 MW, out of which 44,000 MW may come from the Inga site alone at the Inga Falls, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It has been estimated that the hydroelectric potential of the Congo basin amounts to about one-sixth of the known world resources, but only a fraction of this potential has been put into use so far. Activity 3.7 1. What unique similarities and differences can you identify between Congo Basin and Nile Basin? 58 Unit Three Natural Resource Base of Africa 3.2.3 The Niger Basin The Niger basin is the largest river basin in western Africa. The Niger River, which rises in the mountains of Guinea (the Futa Jalon highlands) and enters the sea through its delta in southern Nigeria, is about 4,200 km. It is the third longest river in Africa. Rapids interrupt the Niger basin’s course at several points. The Niger receives water from its largest tributary, the Benue, which flows from its left bank in Nigeria. The middle Niger was separated from the upper Niger by the Benue trough (a narrow depression) which became an inland lake, but dried up through a long time of evaporation, the remnants of which now form the inland Niger delta. Fishing is an important activity across the river system. The discovery and exploitation of petroleum in the delta region, however, has seriously disrupted fishing as a result of pollution of the basin. Irrigation is largely practiced in the Niger valley. Many canals were constructed and huge tracts of irrigated land now produce rice, cotton, sugarcane, and vegetables. The Niger is also a source of hydroelectricity. The largest project is the Kainji Dam in Nigeria which was completed in the late 1960s. Most of the Niger River, more than three-fourths of its total length, is used by commercial shipping. From the Atlantic Ocean to Onitsha (a city located on the eastern bank of the Niger River, in Anambra State, Nigeria) the river is navigable by large vessels throughout the year particularly from June – March. Activity 3.8 1. What unique differences can you identify between Nile Basin and Niger Basin? 3.2.4 The Zambezi Basin The Zambezi River is about 3,540 km in length and occupies a basin with an approximate area of 1,199,164 square kilometer. Originally, there were two rivers, corresponding to the upper and lower courses of the present river; the valley of the lower section eroded toward the headwaters until it captured the waters of the upper section. There are numerous waterfalls, and the most spectacular of them is the Victoria Falls. After these falls, the river winds through a number of deep gorges cut out of basalt and, after flowing through a broad valley, enters Kariba Gorge, which is more than 28 km. The Kafue and the Luangwa, the two main tributaries, which both flow through gorges and join the Zambezi on its left bank downstream from Kariba. At the mouth of the main river is a delta which is about 60 km wide. 59  Grade 10 | Geography Due to its numerous natural barriers (e.g., sandbars) at the mouth, shallowness, and rapids and cataracts, the Zambezi is of little importance for navigation. However, about 2600 km of the river is navigable by small boats. Hydroelectricity is harnessed at the Kariba across the Zambezi River at Kariba Gorge, on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Figure 3.4: Victoria Waterfall Activity 3.9 1. What unique similarities and differences can you identify between Zambezi Basin and Congo Basin? 3.2.5 The Orange Basin The Orange basin is drained by Orange River in southern part of Africa. The Orange River is the longest in South Africa. Flowing across almost the entire width of South Africa, Orange River makes its way from the highlands in the east through the Kalahari depression in the west to empty into the South Atlantic Ocean. Its major tributary, the Vaal River, is one of its northern headwaters. The Orange and the Vaal rivers together have a combined length of about 2,092 km. Navigation is impossible throughout the river’s course because of its irregular flow, its constant interruption by falls and rapids, and the silting that occurs in its channels and at the river mouth. Large irrigation and hydroelectric projects have been hampered on much of the Orange River by the enormous amount of waterborne silt that clogs up reservoirs and reduces the storage capacity of dams. 3.2.6 The Chad Basin The Chad basin constitutes the largest inland drainage area in Africa. The basin’s main water body is Lake Chad. It is a shallow lake on the borders of Chad, Niger, and Nigeria in north central Africa. Its size varies seasonally from about 10,360 km2 to about 25,900 km2. Lake Chad sits within the Sahel, a semiarid strip of land dividing 60 Unit Three Natural Resource Base of Africa the Sahara Desert from the humid savannas. Hence, it is being affected by high temperature of the region which leads to very high seasonal evaporation. Lake Chad is a shallow lake with a mean depth of 1.2 meters. Lake Chad is fed by three major streams, the Komadugu, Yobe, Logone, and Chari, but these are in danger of having their waters captured by the drainage systems of rivers that flow in opposite directions. Cattle are the most important livestock raised in the Chad basin. Hence, pastoralists like the Fulani people and the Hausa agricultural communities from west Africa enter the Lake Chad lowlands on a seasonal basis. Generally, the economy of the people of the Lake Chad region is based primarily on fishing, subsistence and commercial agriculture, and animal husbandry. The people of the basin largely engage in the production of subsistence crops such as sorghum, corn (maize), millet, beans and vegetables. They also depend on forest products like gum arabic, honey, beeswax and firewood. Production of these products, however, has been adversely affected by the decline of the forested areas, aggravated by the explosive growth of cattle populations. Lake Chad is little used for navigation, although there has been intermittent boat traffic between Bol and N’Djamena (Capital of Chad) when the volume of the lake increases. A variety of watercraft are used in fishing on the lake, including the papyrus-reed. Focus Activity 3.10 Problems Facing 1. What important useAfrican Water of other river basins Resources Utilization of Africa is absent and in the Chad Basin? Its solutions Problems faced Solutions Seasonal fluctuations of the volume of Sustainable use of water the rivers, due to; resources Þ low rainfall, and Þ efficient use of water Þ irregular rainfall Þ recycling of waste water Excess flow of water in some rivers, Þ reducing water loss in Þ great swamps exist, and irrigation Þ large areas suffer from periodic Þ storage of water in dams flooding. and ponds Climate variation and change Þ This is the main cause for the above two problems. 61  Grade 10 | Geography 3.3 MAIN TYPES OF SOILS AND MINERAL RESOURCES IN AFRICA At the end of this section, you will be able to: describe the major soil and mineral resources of Africa. մ Arenosols 🔒 KEY TERMS մ Leptosols մ Calcisols մ Mineral մ Cambisols մ Parent material մ Ferralsols մ Soil 3.3.1 Soils of Africa Soil is a complex mixture of weathered minerals, organic and inorganic compounds, living organisms, air and water. Soil is a product of their interactions. Soil forming processes are dependent on these interactions. Processes are generally significant up to 1-2 meters below the ground surface. The material below this depth is known as the soil parent material. Soil has also a number of key environmental, social and economic functions that are vital to life on Earth. It supplies water and nutrients to plants, at the same time soil protects water supplies by storing, buffering and transforming pollutants. Soil is the medium that enables us to grow our food, natural fiber and timber and it supports wildlife habitats. Soil is also a habitat that provides raw materials, preserves the past history and reduces the risk of floods. Without soil, the planet would not function. Africa has very diverse soil types and soil qualities. While many areas have naturally productive soils, large areas of Africa have severe limitations for growing crops because the soils are too shallow, too wet, too dry or lacking nutrients. These differences in soil types and qualities are mainly due to variations in the climate of the continent. Extreme climates of Africa lead to significant variation in the biological activities 62 Unit Three Natural Resource Base of Africa and the availabilities of essential nutrients in the soils. In hot, dry regions, the most productive agricultural soils are to be found along the major river valleys or around wells or oases. Therefore, many African farmers traditionally maintained soil fertility by practicing shifting cultivation or applying mineral fertilizers on their farmlands. The chart shows the share of the major Soil Groups for Africa. Reference Groups occupying 1% or less have been combined as ‘Other’. The total area comprises some 30 million km2 or about 20% of the global soil cover. Figure 3.5: Soils of Africa Based on the areas they cover the major soil types of Africa are arenosols, leptosols, cambisols, ferralsols, and calcisols. The distribution and characteristics of the soils are discussed below. 63  Grade 10 | Geography 1. Arenosols Easily erodible sandy soil with low water and nutrient holding capacity (from Latin, arena, meaning sand). Arenosols develop as a result of the in-situ (being in the original position; not having been moved) weathering of quartz-rich parent material or in recently deposited sands (e.g., dunes in deserts and beaches). They are among the most extensive soil types in the world and are the dominant soil in Africa. It covers 22% of soils of Africa. The Kalahari Sands is the largest body of sand on Earth. Soil formation is often limited by a low weathering rate. If vegetation has not developed, they can be prone to wind erosion. Once vegetated, Figure 3.6: Distribution of Arenosols in Africa the accumulation of organic matter, clay bands or the formation of humus- aluminum complexes can occur. 2. Leptosols Shallow soil over hard rock or gravelly material (from Greek leptos, thin). Leptosols are shallow soils over hard rock, very gravelly material or highly calcareous deposits. Because of limited pedogenic development, leptosols have a weak soil structure. Leptosols occur all over Africa, especially in mountainous and desert regions where hard rock is exposed or comes close to the surface and the physical disintegration of rocks due to freeze/thaw or heating/cooling cycles are the main soil forming processes. It covers 17% of soils of Africa. Figure 3.7: Distribution of Leptosols in Africa 64 Unit Three Natural Resource Base of Africa 3. Cambisols Soil that is only moderately developed on account of limited age (from Latin cambiare, to change) Cambisols are young soils. Generally lacking distinct horizons. Cambisols exhibit only slight evidence of soil- forming processes usually through variations in color, the formation of structure or presence of clay minerals. They are extensive throughout Africa and constitute 11% of soils of the continent. It can have varied characteristics depending on the nature of the parent material, climate and terrain. Figure 3.8: Distribution of Cambisols in Africa 4. Ferralsols Strongly weathered soils with low nutrient-holding capacity (from Latin ferrum, iron and alumen, alum) Ferralsols are widespread in Central, Eastern and Southern Africa covering 10% of the soils of Africa. Mostly associated with high rainfall areas and very old (Tertiary) land surfaces, they are strongly leached soils that have lost nearly all of their weatherable minerals over time. As a result, they are dominated by stable products such as aluminum oxides, iron oxides and kaolinite which give Ferralsols their strong red and yellow colors. Levels of calcium and magnesium are very low. The binding of particles by iron oxides gives ferralsols an apparent sandy or silty Figure 3.9: Distribution of Ferralsols in Africa feeling (pseudo-sand). 65  Grade 10 | Geography 5. Calcisols Soil with significant accumulation of calcium carbonates, generally found in dry areas (from Latin calcarius, lime rich) Calcisols occur in many parts of Africa, especially where the climate is dry enough to allow the accumulation of calcium carbonate in the soil. They form through the leaching of carbonates from the upper part of the soil which precipitate when the subsoil becomes oversaturated, from carbonate-rich water moving through the soil or by the evaporation of water which leaves behind dissolved carbonates. Precipitated calcium carbonate can fill the pores in the soil, thereby acting as a cementing agent, and can form a solid Figure 3.10: Distribution of Calcisols in Africa hard pan (calcrete) that is impenetrable to plant roots. It covers 6% of the soils of Africa. Activity 3.11 1. From the figures above, which soil types are largely found in Ethiopia? 2. From the figures above, which of the soil types cover few areas in Ethiopia? 3. By searching the internet, identify other soil types largely found in Ethiopia. 3.3.2 Mineral Resources of Africa Africa has huge mineral wealth as a result of its long geological history. The activities of mountains, rivers, volcanoes, lakes and forests further consolidate the appearance of minerals. Ancient woodlands have been transformed over millions of years into fossil fuels such as petroleum, natural gas, and coal. The courses of rivers and the disturbances of landforms have exposed to the surface deposits of metals such as uranium, iron, copper, zinc and tin, as well as rock minerals such as phosphates. Africa’s rocks, soil, and volcanic activities are the source of some of the world’s greatest treasures – for example, platinum and cobalt. 66 Unit Three Natural Resource Base of Africa Industrial metals are a major industry in some African countries, making them key players in the global economy. Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia produce more than half of the world’s cobalt and a significant amount of its copper respectively. Other leading suppliers of industrial metals include Guinea of the bauxite (aluminum ore) and South Africa and Gabon of manganese. Table 3.2: Africa’s Leading Mineral Production and Reserves Country Mineral Mine production Rank of Percent (1000 tons) world of world 2019 production reserves South Africa Chromium 17,000 1 35.1 South Africa Manganese 5,500 1 32.1 South Africa Platinum 130,000 1 91.3 D.R. Congo Cobalt 100,000 1 51.43 D.R. Congo Tantalum 740 1 NA Guinea Bauxite 82,000 2 24.7 Rwanda Tantalum 370 2 NA Gabon Manganese 2,400 3 7.5 D.R. Congo Diamonds (Industrial) 12 3 13.6 D.R. Congo Copper 1,300 4 2.2 South Africa Iron Ore 77,000 6 0.64 Ethiopia Tantalum 40 6 NA Ghana Gold 130 7 2 Zambia Copper 790 7 2.2 South Africa Gold 90 10 6.4 Africa produces petroleum for the global market. Algeria and Libya together possess about 3 percent of the world’s known petroleum reserves, and many North African countries earn much of their foreign income from petroleum and natural gas. However, the continent’s largest petroleum producer is the West Africanountry Nigeria. Coal deposits exist in large reserves in the nations of Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. Problems faced by Mineral Resources Utilization in Africa Africa has vast mineral resources, but at present much of that potential is not being tapped and not being effectively used to benefit the peoples of the continent. This sector has suffered from the legacy of colonialism. 67  Grade 10 | Geography The Europeans involved in a frantic race to conquer all of Africa and to exploit its natural resources by the 1880s. Surveyors in South Africa had found astonishing sources of copper in 1854, diamonds in 1867, and gold in the 1880s. Then the Europeans established mines throughout Africa. In south-central Africa, a chain of major copper mines stretched from Zambia to Democratic Republic of Congo. In western Africa miners produced diamonds and gold in Ghana and Sierra Leone, and tin and coal in Nigeria. Mining supported the economies of many colonial powers; hence, the profits went back to the mining industry and its owners in Europe. European colonial powers invested their money mainly in mining. They focused on the development of transportation to exploit mineral resources. Railroads were built to carry minerals to ports on the coasts – not to link major cities, populations, or other industries. The impact of colonial control on the mining industry continued after African nations won independence in the mid-1900s. Mines and miners kept working and producing. Now European owners often granted a share of the profits, as well as taxes, to African governments. In some nations, the new governments seized ownership of the mines. But the results were often disastrous. The industries suffered from poor management, lack of investment money, low selling prices, political turmoil, outdated machinery, and general neglect of the sector. Labor disputes remained common. As African economies faltered in the 1970s and 1980s, their governments fell in debt to Western banks and international institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. These bodies pressured African nations to sell their mines and other industries to private investors, mainly international corporations. Several other factors limited the profitability of African mining in the late 1900s. For the most part, the continent’s raw ores are exported to other countries for manufacturing. The ores are sold to other countries for much less than the price of the goods made from them. Furthermore, changes in industrial processes worldwide have reduced the demand for copper, iron ore, and other metals. In Africa, the mining industry continues to be poorly connected to other industries and methods of transportation. In addition, diamond smuggling is widespread in illegal markets, drawing taxes and other profits away from African governments and companies. Finally, most mining operations in Africa today are on a large scale, and small companies find it hard to compete. Even so, small-scale mining – often for local use and not for profit, does exist in many African countries. 68 Unit Three Natural Resource Base of Africa Activity 3.12 1. List the problems Africa faced 2. Provide possible solutions in the utilization of its mineral to effectively use the mineral resources resources 3.4 MAJOR VEGETATION AND WILDLIFE OF AFRICA At the end of this section, you will be able to: demonstrate the major vegetation distribution of Africa; and identify the major distribution of wildlife in Africa. մ Endemic 🔒 KEY TERMS մ Marine life մ Flora մ Parks մ Forest մ Steppe մ Mammals մ Vegetation i. Vegetation of Africa Vegetation is the general term we use to refer to living plants – the trees and grasses that cover the earth’s surface. Biologically, vegetation is known as flora. The plant communities such as forests, shrubs and grasses are distributed across the surface 69  Grade 10 | Geography of the earth. The plant communities contain different plant associations such as deciduous broadleaves, and evergreen broadleaves. They are usually found in similar environments. The distribution of the plants and the composition of plant associations affected by the following factors. a. Climate: elements of climate such as, temperature, precipitation, humidity, light and wind are critical to the distribution of vegetation. Hence, the map of vegetation distribution is very similar to the map of the climate of an area. b. Landform: elevation, slope orientation, degree of slope and variation in rock type significantly affect the distribution of plant communities or vegetation. c. Soils: soils influence plant growth through their chemical constitutes, chemical reaction and capacity to hold water. d. Biotic factors: living organisms – plants or animals, affect plant growth through competition for available water, shading, and enhancing soil fertility. Distribution of Major Vegetation of Africa Based on climate, the natural vegetation types and their distribution in Africa are divided into two broad categories. These are the tropical category and subtropical category. I. Tropical Category 1. Tropical rainforest The tropical rainforests are found in the central part of Africa, on both sides of the Equator and eastern coast of Madagascar. The rainforests are characterized by high rainfall, ranging from 1000 to more than 2000 mm/year, due to the permanency of the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITC) on the Equator. The most extensive formation of the rainforests is found in the Guineo-Congolian lowland, concentrated in the Congo Basin. There are tall dense forests, which are more than 30 meters high with emergents up to 50 – 60 meters forming several strata. Some canopy species are deciduous, but the forest is evergreen or semi-evergreen. There is also abundant growth of Epiphytes. These are plants which grow on trunks and limbs 70 Unit Three Natural Resource Base of Africa of trees. There short dry season in winter and the temperature is high always in the tropical rainforest areas. Table 3.3: Natural Vegetation - Type and Area in Africa Natural vegetation type Surface area Area (in Km2) Percent of total land area Tropical rainforest 4,017,705 13.5 Tropical moist deciduous forest 4,661,180 15.6 Tropical dry forest 3,669,529 12.3 Tropical shrubland 5,977,939 20.0 Tropical desert 8,737,674 29.3 Tropical mountain forest 1,473,226 4.9 Subtropical humid forest 85,099 0.3 Subtropical dry forest 334,816 1.1 Subtropical steppe 456,663 1.5 Subtropical mountain systems 412,356 1.4 Total land area 29,826,187 99.9 2. Tropical Moist Deciduous Forest This forest type is found around the Guineo- Congolian basin, along the south-eastern coast of Africa, as well as in the central part of Madagascar. The wet zone is bordered by an area where the dry season is always noticeable, for up to 6 months. There is a single rainy season, in summer, but there are obvious regional variations. Annual rainfall varies between 800 and 1500 mm, locally up to 2000 mm. Figure 3.11: Distribution of Major Vegetation Types of Africa 71  Grade 10 | Geography 3. Tropical Dry Forest The tropical dry forests occupy an area further from the Equator and from the wet southeastern coast. Here, rainfall decreases and the dry season is always long, about 6 - 7 months. Rainfall varies between 500 and 1000 mm. Temperature is always high, with mean temperature of the coldest month of 20°C. In these drier conditions, the predominant vegetation type is woodland. 4. Tropical Shrubland In these areas close to the tropics, rainfall becomes lower and lower, while temperatures are still high. It is the case in the Sahelian zone and Kalahari, as well as the southwestern part of Madagascar. Rainfall is always less than 1000 mm and scarcely reaches 200 mm in the drier parts of the Tropical Shrubland. The mean temperature of the coldest month is generally more than 20°C, except in Kalahari where, due to the proximity of the sea, temperatures are lower (the mean temperature of the coldest month may drop down to 10°C). Tropical shrubland also covers a large part of Somalia. However, Somalia has a unique characteristic. Even if it lies across the Equator and not further than 12°N, the climate is semi-arid or arid. Whereas the trade winds direction is parallel to the coast and does not bring much humidity. Moreover, in winter, the Indian monsoon reaches this part of Africa after crossing large continents. As a result of these phenomena, Somalia is dry, with annual rainfall between 400 and 750 mm and very high temperatures due to low latitude. The tropical shrubland is dominated by deciduous shrubland and thicket with Acacia. 5. Tropical Desert The tropical desert extends on the desertic African lands: Sahara, Karoo-Namib and the coastal zone of Somalia. Here, rainfall is lower than 200 mm and does not allow the growth of a continuous vegetation cover. Generally, only xerophytes or plants which grow in desert condition can be found in these areas. Meanwhile, woody vegetation can be found along the wadis in Sahara. The rest large surface is true desert. 6. Tropical Mountain Forest This is limited to highland areas above 800 to 1200 m above sea level. Here, as elevation increases temperature decreases and vegetation changes. So, we define Tropical Mountain Forests as submontane, montane and high elevation vegetation. All of them correspond with tropical vegetation types. The main mountains systems of tropical Africa are the Cameroon highlands, the mountains of Kenya, the Kivu ridge ,and the 72 Unit Three Natural Resource Base of Africa Ethiopian highlands. Some lower and isolated hills occur, such as Fouta Djalon, Jos and Mandara plateau in West Africa, Hoggar in Sahara or Windhoek Mountain in southern Africa. The central part of Madagascar is formed of a high range separating the western wide lowlands from the narrow eastern coastal plain. The climatic type of each mountain is characterized by lower temperatures and, often higher rainfall. Vegetation is extremely diverse and varies with climate. In most mountains, the lowermost vegetation is forest. Between the lowland forest and the rather different montane forest, there is a submontane transition zone. In many places, however, the vegetation of this transition zone has been destroyed by fire and cultivation. Montane forest, generally above 1500 - 2000 meters, is lower in structure than lowland and submontane forests. At the upper part of the montane level, an Ericaceous belt replaces the forest. Meanwhile, in an area above 3000 meters, it is followed by Afro-alpine shrublands and grasslands. II. Subtropical Category 1. Subtropical Humid Forest This vegetation zone is restricted in Africa to a narrow zone along the east coast of Southern Africa, roughly between 25°S and 34°S. The coastal regions of the zone have moderately high and well-distributed rainfall. Annual rainfall is 800 - 1200 mm and the mean temperature of the coldest month 7°C to 15°C. The mean annual temperature diminishes from 22°C in the north to 17°C in the south. Further inland, climate changes rapidly over short distances. The natural vegetation is evergreen or semi-evergreen forest. Where the rainfall is too low to support forest, the vegetation changes into evergreen and semi-evergreen bushland and thicket. 2. Subtropical Dry Forest The subtropical dry forests are confined to the Mediterranean climates of North Africa and South Africa, in an area that has a long dry season, 3 to 6 months in summer. Most of the rainfall (400 - 1000 mm/year) occurs in winter. 3. Subtropical Steppe The subtropical steppe forms a continuous transitional zone northern Africa to separate the subtropical dry forest from the Sahara Desert. Rainfall varies from 200 to 500 mm, with a long dry hot season of 6 to 11 months. The mean temperature of the coldest month is always more than 7°C. The vegetation is mostly dominated by acacia. 73  Grade 10 | Geography 4. Subtropical Mountain Systems This is found in both northern Africa and southern Africa. In northern Africa it is found in the Atlas Mountains area, which extend for over 3000 km from northern Morocco to Tunisia, parallel to the Mediterranean coast. Its altitude reaches 1500 meters in Tunisia, 2500 m in Algeria, and 4165 m in Morocco. In South Africa, it is found in the Highveld Region, which is more than 1000 m in altitude, bordered by the Ukhahlamba (Drakensberg) reaching more than 3000 m. In the northern Atlas ranges, the lower slopes are covered by mixed forest with deciduous oaks. While, in southern Africa, Highveld region is covered with grassland, but an evergreen montane forest with Podocarpus grows in on the Ukhahlamba slopes. ii. Wildlife of Africa Africa has more diverse wildlife than any other continent. The diversity and wealth of wildlife found in Africa is the result of diverse climate of the continent – which ranges from intense heat to bitter cold. Its varied vegetation has given rise to a wide range of animals, including mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, and insects. Africa is inhabited by the world’s fastest land animal cheetah, the biggest bird ostrich and the largest land animal elephant. 1. Mammals Africa is home to an astonishing variety of mammals. The continent’s herbivores, or plant-eating animals, ranging from elephants, rhinoceroses, and hippopotamuses to hoofed mammals, such as the giraffe and the African buffalo. Vast herds of grazing animals, such as zebras and wildebeests, roam the open plains and savannas. Africa’s many varieties of antelope include the hartebeest, gnu or wildebeest, dik-dik, gazelle, impala, springbok, oryx, reedbuck, and eland, the largest antelope. Africa is home to three kinds of large cats – lions, leopards, and cheetahs – and smaller felines such as the serval and wildcat, such as wild dogs, jackals, foxes, hyenas, civets, and weasels. Different species of monkeys and two species of great apes, the chimpanzee and the gorilla, live in Africa. The continent also has many species of lemurs, small animals that belong to the primate family, like monkeys and apes. Most lemurs live in trees and are nocturnal, or active at night, although a few are active by day. The island of Madagascar has the largest variety of lemurs in the world. 74 Unit Three Natural Resource Base of Africa Figure 3.12: Chimpanzee Figure 3.13: Gorilla Some of the mammals that live in Africa are endemic to Africa – i.e., found nowhere else in the world. These include Walia ibex, Nyala, giraffes, hippopotamuses, jumping hares, and the long-snouted, insect-eating tenrecs of Madagascar. Another animal unique to Africa is the aardvark, a large nocturnal animal with a piglike body, long tail, rabbit like ears, and a long snout. The aardvark rips open termite nests with its sharp claws, then uses its sticky almost one-footlong tongue to lap up the insects inside. Figure 3.14: Lemur Figure 3.15: Jumping hare Figure 3.16: Tenrecs Figure 3.17: Aardvark 75  Grade 10 | Geography Figure 3.18: Nyala Figure 3.19: Walia ibex Activity 3.13 1. Which of the mammals mentioned in the text and figures above are found in Ethiopia? 2. Birds Nearly 2,000 species of birds spend at least part of each year in Africa. In addition to varieties of hawks, eagles, owls, larks, kingfishers, and other birds found elsewhere in the world, several bird species are native only to Africa. These include the ostrich, Africa’s largest bird; the hamerkop, which resembles a heron; and touracos, birds with brightly colored feathers. Several species of small, drab birds are called honey guides because people follow them to honeybee nests. 3. Reptiles A great many reptiles and amphibians creep, slither, or hop along Africa’s varied terrain. Reptiles include lizards, tortoises, crocodiles, and many types of snakes. Some snakes, such as the mamba and the Egyptian cobra, are venomous enough to be dangerous to humans. Boa constrictors and iguanas live only on Madagascar. Among Africa’s amphibians are various salamanders and frogs, including the bizarre hairy frog of Cameroon. 4. Insects Of, several are regarded as pests. Locusts devour crops and other vegetation; mosquitoes carry malaria; and tsetse flies carry trypanosomiasis, or sleeping sickness, a disease that harms both humans and livestock. Other African insects include various species of large butterflies, dung beetles, stick insects that resemble twigs or leaves, driver or 76 Unit Three Natural Resource Base of Africa safari ants that travel in huge columns, and termites that cooperate to build tall earthen mounds. Spiders are plentiful everywhere. 5. Marine life A wide variety of marine life exists off the coasts of Africa, and the continent has more kinds of freshwater fish than any other – about 2,000 species. Some freshwater creatures are ancient varieties that have changed little over millions of years, such as lungfish, lobefins, and reedfish, which can breathe air. Certain types of African catfish not only breathe air but also move across the land during rainy weather. Lake Nyasa alone has about 160 species of fish found nowhere else in the world. National Parks in Africa Many African governments have established national parks to protect the wildlife from human impact, and other purposes such as for scientific study, and educational and recreational opportunities for both local people and visitors. The oldest of the parks is South Africa’s Kruger National Park. Africa’s protected areas and parks vary greatly in number, size, and quality from country to country. Eastern and southern Africa are particularly well known for their wildlife parks. Tsavo in Kenya and Serengeti in Tanzania are among the continent’s largest and most famous parks. Malawi, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe also have impressive preserves of wildlife. However, few countries in western Africa have significant parks. Table 3.4: Major National Parks of Africa National Parks Country Area (Km2) Selous Game Reserve Tanzania 55,000 Central Kalahari Game Reserve Botswana 52,000 Namib-Nankluft Park Namibia 49,768 Niassa Reserve Mozambique 42,000 Kafue National Park Zambia 22,400 Etosha National Park Namibia 22,270 Kruger National Park South Africa 19,455 Luvushi Manda National Park Malawi 15,000 Serengeti National Park Tanzania 14,763 Hwange National Park Zimbabwe 14,651 77  Grade 10 | Geography UNIT SUMMARY Unit Three examined the natural resource base of Africa. Meanwhile, in order to have a better understanding of concepts related to natural resources an overview of the world’s major natural resources has been thoroughly discussed. Our planet has huge supplies of natural resources that we need to survive. However, our biggest challenge is to use resources without destroying or degrading the environment. Our quality of life and survival depends on our ability to use, rather than abuse, the environment. Therefore, sustainable use is the use of resources is very important. Sustainable use refers to the use of resources in a way and at a rate that does not lead to the long-term degradation of the environment, thereby maintaining its potential to meet the needs and aspirations of present and future generations. A drainage basin or watershed is an area of land where surface water from rain converges to a single point at a lower elevation. This usually appears at the exit of the basin, where the main river joins another water body. Africa has some of the world’s largest and longest rivers. The Congo is the Earth’s second- largest river by volume in the world. Whereas, the Nile is the longest river in the world. River basins are found in every direction in Africa. The Niger is found in the west, Zambezi and Orange are found in the southern part and the Chad basin is in the center of Africa. These basins face several problems such as seasonal fluctuations and excessive flows and the challenges posed by climate change. The best solution to these problems is planning and using the water resources in a sustainable manner. Africa has very diverse soil types and soil qualities. While many areas have naturally productive soils, large areas of Africa have severe limitations for growing crops because the soils are too shallow, too wet, too dry, or lacking in nutrients. These differences in soil types and qualities are mainly due to variations in the climate of the continent. Extreme climates of Africa lead to significant variation in the biological activities and the availabilities of essential nutrients in the soils. Therefore, many African farmers traditionally maintained soil fertility by practicing shifting cultivation or applying mineral fertilizers on their farmlands. Africa has also very diverse natural vegetation and wildlife. These diversities are the result of its climate landscape. Therefore, the continent is endowed with huge tropical forests found in the central part of Africa. Other varieties include; shrubs and steppe vegetation of arid and semiarid areas to humid subtropical forests. Africa has more diverse wildlife than any other continent. The diversity and wealth of wildlife found in 78  Natural Resource Base of Africa Africa is the result of the diverse climate of the continent – which ranges from intense heat to bitter cold. Its varied vegetation has given rise to a wide range of animals, including mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, and insects. is the result of diverse climate of the continent – that ranges from intense heat to bitter cold. Its varied vegetation has given rise to a wide range of animals, including mammals, birds, reptiles, fish and insects. Unit Summary and Review Exercises 79  Grade 10 | Geography REVIEW QUESTIONS 1. Natural resources are parts of the environment that people can extract and exploit; i. Based on the above statement, does natural resources utilization require ability? __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ 2. What are some natural resources commonly found in your local environment? __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ 3. Using Table 3.1 explain the importance of freshwater? __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ 4. List major uses of the rivers of Africa? __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ 5. Make debate on why Africa is poor while having abundant water and mineral resources. __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ 80