Southern Africa

The bodiversity of southern Africa depends on water as does the regional economy. Water flows through every economic sector: agriculture, energy, industry, mining, tourism, and fisheries. However, this vital resource is under threat from environmental degradation due to population growth, poverty, climate change and pollution.

Found in a variety of forms and sometimes with very attractive flowers, cacti and other succulents have elicited widespread interest and tremendous popularity worldwide. Although the subject of a certain amount of debate, about 10,000 species of plant are recognised as belonging to the succulent group. Of these, an estimated 2,000 are threatened with global extinction in the wild and many more are regionally or nationally threatened.

An essential reference for environmental and natural resource policy makers and managers. This guide contains for the SADC region and each country: an overview of the environmental institutions in the region and in each country; a directory of key environmental institutions and organizations and an annotated bibliography of major environmental assessments, strategies and policies.