Sustaining the Future

Sub-Saharan Africa is facing increasing pressures on its national environments, economies and societies. Financial burdens, difficulties with economic reform, problems with social transformation and of rapidly growing cities, combined with loss of productive top soil, deforestation and scarce or poor quality fresh water are among the major contributors. This text focuses on sustainable environmental development in the Sub-Saharan African region in the medium-term future. The first part analyses the driving forces of environmental change in the region, and the second part takes up issues central to sustainability, including agriculture, on which the majority of people stll depend for their livelihood. The authors stress the need for policies aimed at poverty eradication and equitable economic development to counter unsustainable use of natural resources and to reduce vulnerability to environmental deterioration and economic decline.