Africa’s biocapacity is vanishing in the wake of rising population
Africa's ecological footprint will exceed its biocapacity within the next 20 years, Senegal, Kenya and Tanzania, are set to reach this point in less than five years.
Currently, Africa's ecological footprint will exceed its biocapacity within the next 20 years, (a number of countries, including Senegal, Kenya and Tanzania, are set to reach this point in less than five years).
In laymen's terms, the human population is increasing at such a rapid rate, renewable energies such as, crops, fiber, and timber are unable to be produced and meet the demand.
Between 1961-2005 the population in Africa grew from 287 million to 902 million people, the amount of biocapacity, per person, decreased by 67 percent.
As alarming as these numbers are they in fact reflect of a global trend.
The situation in Africa however, is especially delicate because it represents 12 percent of the world's biocapacity, and its population tends to suffer first and most tragically when humanity's demand on nature exceeds what nature can renewably provide.
Environmentalists warn, swift, decisive action is needed to avoid an event of catastrophic proportions.
Global Footprint Network President Mathis Wackernagel warns, "Development that ignores the limits of our natural resources ultimately ends up imposing disproportionate costs on the most vulnerable."
Click here for Global Footprint article
Author: Caitlin Martinez
Photo: aloshbennett
