Top Natural Resources in Africa

Africa is the oldest inhabited continent on Earth, earning it the moniker “Mother Continent.”

Africa has been home to humans and their ancestors for more than 5 million years.

The Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea, and the Indian Ocean all encircle Africa, the second-largest continent.

The Equator divides it approximately evenly in half.

Africa’s physical geography, environment, and human geography can all be considered separately. 

Today, its resources are the main focus.

Mining and Drilling

Important metals and minerals are produced in large quantities throughout Africa.

Uranium, which is used to create nuclear energy.

Platinum is used in jewelry and industrial applications.

Nickel is used in stainless steel, magnets, coins, and rechargeable batteries.

Bbauxite, the primary ore of aluminum, and cobalt, which is used in color pigments, are among the metals African nations export.

Gold and diamonds are the continent’s two most profitable mineral resources.

In 2008, about 483 tonnes of gold, or 22% of global production, were produced in Africa.

Nearly half of all the gold produced in Africa is produced in South Africa.

Other significant gold producers include Tanzania, Ghana, Guinea, and Mali.

Africa dominates global diamond sales. In 2008, the continent generated 55% of the world’s diamonds.

The biggest diamond-producing nations in Africa are Botswana, Angola, South Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Namibia.

Unfortunately, the diamond industry has both started and sponsored several wars and conflicts throughout Africa.

Conflict diamonds or blood diamonds are the names given to diamonds that originate in these areas.

Oil and Natural Gas Resources in Africa

Certain oil and gas resources in Africa are drilled for energy and fuel.

The continent contributed 6.45% of the world’s natural gas production and 12.5% of the oil production in 2007.

In Africa, the oil sector is dominated by Nigeria, Libya, Algeria, Egypt, and Angola.

Oil exploration has substantially risen on the continent, and many nations are attempting to become first-time producers.

Production of oil and natural gas has also been linked to civil unrest.

Since the early 1990s, rebel groups in Nigeria have attacked oil infrastructure and taken oil from pipelines.

These organizations—mostly ethnic minorities—claim that foreign oil firms have taken advantage of their labour while taking the majority of the profits.

They claim that outdated machinery has seriously contaminated the air, soil, and water resources.

This pollution has caused losses in fish populations and arable land.

However, because they have damaged equipment, these guerrilla organisations’ violent operations have also exacerbated pollution.

Many businesses were forced to close as a result of the attacks, decreasing production and local income.

Read: Wildlife Safari in Africa: Untamed Beauty Unveiled

Climate and Agriculture

Africa’s agriculture, which is thought to be the most significant economic activity on the continent, is significantly influenced by climatic variables.

Two-thirds of the continent’s working population depend on agriculture, which accounts for 20 to 60% of each nation’s gross domestic product(GDP).

The worth of all the goods and services produced in a nation in a given year is measured as GDP.

Tropical wet, savanna, desert, Mediterranean, and highland are significant agricultural climatic areas.

Tropical wet conditions are present along the east coast of Madagascar, the Gulf of Guinea, and the Equator.

Year-round, the temperature hovers at about 27° Celsius (80° Fahrenheit).

Between 152 centimetres (60 inches) of annual precipitation in the interior to 330 centimetres (130 inches) on the coasts.

Plantains, pineapples, coffee, cocoa, and oil palms are significant crops in Africa’s tropical wet regions.

African Regions and Their Agricultural Riches

A large portion of eastern and southern Africa has savanna-like characteristics.

Compared to tropical wet regions, the temperatures here are colder and more fluctuating.

Each year’s rain ranges from 50 to 152 centimetres (20 to 60 inches).

In the savanna, the dry season may extend up to six months. Cassava, which is related to potatoes, peanuts, peppers, okra, eggplant, cucumber, and watermelon are important savanna crops.

Here, millet and sorghum, two of Africa’s most significant grain crops, are farmed.

Desert conditions exist in northern Africa, particularly in the Sahara and the Sahel.

On the hottest days, the temperature can reach 54° Celsius (130° F), while the coldest nights can be below zero.

The maximum amount of precipitation each year is 25 centimetres (10 inches), while some regions have prolonged droughts.

Date palms and cotton are significant desert crops.

The northern and southern shores of Africa experience a Mediterranean climate.

These areas get mild winters, dry summers, and little to moderate rainfall.

Figs, olives, oranges, tomatoes, onions, and big vegetables like cauliflower and cabbage are all significant crops.

Highland conditions can be found in Africa’s highest elevations, especially in the Ethiopian Highlands.

Compared to the nearby lowlands, this area has substantially colder temperatures.

The direction of the mountain with moisture-carrying winds affects precipitation.

A few significant highland crops are wheat, potatoes, and alfalfa.

Read: What are Sustainable Solutions for Water Crisis in Africa?

Forestry and Fishing

In Africa, forestry—the management of trees and other plant life in forests—is a significant economic activity.

More than any other continent, Africa’s gross domestic product (GDP) is typically 6% derived from forest products.

Africa has a large amount of forest cover, with 0.8 hectares (2 acres) of forest per person, compared to 0.6 hectares (1.5 acres) worldwide.

The forest sector generates more than 60% of GDP in central and western Africa, the regions with the greatest forest cover.

A large amount of money is made by exporting forest goods, particularly premium woods like mahogany and Okoume.

These woods are most commonly found in the Congo Basin nations of Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea, where there is a deep rainforest.

For instance, Okoume accounts for 90% of Gabon’s tree harvesting.

Typically, these woods are shipped to Israel, Japan, and the European Union.

Mahogany and Okoume are used in everything from homes to musical instruments to light aeroplanes.

Read: African Energy Industry: Unleashing Potential as Global Power

Illicit Logging and Overharvesting in Africa’s Forest Industry

Many Okoume and mahogany species are in danger of extinction.

Overharvesting, in the opinion of experts, will eventually ruin forest habitats.

The rainforest habitat in which these trees thrive is being destroyed for agriculture and development, and saplings that were planted to replace the logged trees do not grow quickly enough to be picked regularly.

Africa is currently split between safeguarding these natural landscapes from overdevelopment and using its forests economically to the fullest extent.

More than 10 million people in Africa make a living from the $2.7 billion in annual exports of the continent’s fishing industry.

All of Africa’s oceanic coasts have fisheries, in addition to its interior.

For example, vast freshwater fisheries are supported by the Nile River and the Great Lakes.

Many African coastal nations depend on their marine resources.

With 4.5 million tonnes of fish produced there in 2000, West Africa is one of the world’s most economically significant fishing regions.

Additionally, Namibia and South Africa are significant players in the marine fish market, which yearly export 80 to 90% of their total fish production.

More than 3,000 fish species can be found in Africa’s huge inland fisheries, which produce two-thirds of the world’s inland fish.

Read: African Mining: Examining Its Economic and Environmental Impacts

Conclusion

In conclusion, Africa’s vast and varied natural resources underscore its global significance.

From the rich deposits of gold, diamonds, and oil to the continent’s vital agricultural sectors and extensive forestry, Africa offers immense economic potential.

However, challenges such as conflict, environmental degradation, and resource mismanagement persist.

Balancing economic growth with sustainable practices is crucial for Africa’s future.

By addressing these issues, Africa can harness its natural wealth to drive development and improve livelihoods while preserving its unique environments.

Finally, the continent’s journey reflects its historical richness and evolving role in the global economy.

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