Africa: policy on genetically modified organisms (GMO) and genetically engineered (GE) foods

The Cartagena protocol on biosafety, a supplement to the convention on biological diversity, has strong support in Africa, with a majority of the countries…

Current and potential arable land use in Africa

Out of the total land area in Africa, only a fraction is used for arable land. Using soil, land cover and climatic characteristics a…

Sub-Saharan Africa: Mineral resources and political instability

Africa, south of Sahara, is a region with plenty of valuable mineral resources - metals, oil and diamonds. Foreign investments lead the extraction and…

Coastal issues in the islands of Comoros and Mayotte

With poverty and high population density this group of volcanic islands between Eastern Africa and Madagascar faces challenges in the management of the coastal…

Emissions of carbon dioxide, in Africa and selected OECD countries

Africa represents only a small fraction, 3.6%, out of the total carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per year, yet 14% of the population of the…

Pesticides stockpiles in Africa

Mountains of obsolete pesticides are stockpiled in Africa. Problems with labeling, storage, and the supply of unsuitable products, means that they sit around unused,…

Woodfuel and energy consumption

Biomass, primarily woodfuel, is the major source of energy in Sub-Saharan Africa, with the exception of South Africa. Over 90% of the total energy…

Nigeria and the freshwater challenge

Out of the total precipitation reaching Nigeria, it can be separated into green and blue water. Green water (79% of the precipitation) represents the…

Catches in the Mauritania Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) 1950-2002

Marine fisheries represent a significant, but finite, natural resource for coastal countries. The majority of the catches in some of the areas of the…

Cabins along the Southern coast of Norway

Average density of cabins per area in Norwegian fylker, 2003