What
is the Human impact on the environment, Environmental resource management and
Environmental justice?
Zimbabwe is the second most industrialized
country in SADC, after South Africa. Industries are concentrated around Harare,
with ore smelters located close to the ore sources (principally along the Great
Dyke). A combination of vehicle emissions, dust and smoke from domestic fires
is a potential air quality concern in larger cities such as Harare. Water is
not generally abundant, and the maintenance of water quality is a serious
issue.
Biodiversity
preservation
Zimbabwe has a rich biotic heritage and is
highly dependent on tourism. It has a long history of biodiversity
preservation, through the national parks, forest reserves and innovative
community-based sustainable-use schemes such as CAMPFIRE. Nevertheless, the
natural resources are under pressure from a growing population with limited
economic alternatives.
Land
quality
Zimbabwe has the greatest fraction of its land
area in good quality agricultural land. The economy of Zimbabwe has a large
agricultural component, and the majority of people are dependent on the land.
The distribution of people and productive agricultural resources is uneven,
leading to problems of land degradation where large numbers of people and
livestock are concentrated on marginal lands.
Freshwater
resources
The Zambezi River in the north is one of
the largest rivers in Africa, but does not currently supply water to the rest
of the country, which is water-scarce in most parts. The geology is generally
not conducive to large groundwater supplies.
Climate
change
Like the rest of southern Africa, Zimbabwe
is strongly influenced by fluctuations in rainfall. An improvement in the water
balance as a result of climate change would be a great benefit; increase water
stress, on the other hand, would be a substantial development challenge. Zimbabwe
environmental problems like erosion of its agricultural lands and
deforestation.
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