Environment - current issues In 35 editions of 36.

• large areas subject to severe weather (tropical cyclones),
• natural disasters (earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions),
• overpopulation,
• industrial disasters,
• pollution (air, water, acid rain, toxic substances),
• loss of vegetation (overgrazing, deforestation, desertification),
• loss of wildlife resources,
• soil degradation,
• soil depletion,
• erosion

mountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes; desertification

locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on plateau; desertification

surrounded by reefs; subject to periodic cyclones

• hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north in winter;
• deforestation;
• desertification

overgrazing, desertification

• recent droughts and desertification severely affecting marginal agricultural activities, population distribution, economy;
• overgrazing;
• deforestation

• soil exhaustion;
• soil erosion;
• deforestation

• subject to prolonged droughts;
• harmattan wind can obscure visibility;
• volcanically and seismically active;
• deforestation;
• overgrazing

• recent volcanic activity with release of poisonous gases;
• deforestation;
• overgrazing;
• desertification

• hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas;
• poaching has diminished reputation as one of last great wildlife refuges;
• desertification

• hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north;
• drought and desertification adversely affecting south;
• subject to plagues of locusts

• soil degradation and erosion;
• deforestation;
• cyclones possible during rainy season

dense tropical rain forest in central river basin and eastern highlands; periodic droughts in south

deforestation; about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe Noire, or along the railroad between them

coast has heavy surf and no natural harbors; severe deforestation

vast wasteland

• Nile is only perennial water source;
• increasing soil salinization below Aswan High Dam;
• hot, driving windstorm called khamsin occurs in spring;
• water pollution;
• desertification

subject to violent windstorms

• frequent droughts, famine;
• deforestation;
• soil eroision;
• overgrazing;
• loss of infrastructure from civil warfare

• overgrazing;
• soil degradation;
• soil erosion

• geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions;
• deforestation;
• overgrazing;
• soil erosion;
• desertification;
• frequent droughts;
• famine

wildlife sanctuary

deforestation

deforestation

• recent drought in north severely affecting marginal agricultural activities;
• deforestation;
• overgrazing;
• soil erosion;
• dry, northeasterly harmattan wind (January to March)

subject to periodic cyclones

• hot,
• dry,
• dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season;
• deforestation

• hot,
• dry,
• dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season

subject to periodic cyclones; wildlife sanctuary

• unique physiography supports abundant and varied wildlife of scientific and economic value;
• deforestation;
• soil erosion;
• desertification;
• glaciers on Mt. Kenya

• population pressure forcing settlement in marginal areas results in overgrazing,
• severe soil erosion,
• soil exhaustion;
• desertification

West Africa's largest tropical rain forest, subject to deforestation

• hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one to four days in spring and fall;
• desertification;
• sparse natural surface-water resources

• subject to periodic cyclones;
• deforestation;
• overgrazing;
• soil erosion;
• desertification

deforestation

• hot, dust-laden harmattan;
• haze common during dry seasons;
• desertification

• hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March and April;
• desertification;
• only perennial river is the Senegal

subject to cyclones (November to April); almost completely surrounded by reefs

subject to cyclones during rainy season

northern mountains geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes; desertification

severe drought and floods occur in south; desertification

inhospitable with very limited natural water resources; desertification

• recurrent drought and desertification severely affecting marginal agricultural activities;
• overgrazing;
• soil erosion

• recent droughts in north severely affecting marginal agricultural activities;
• desertification;
• soil degradation, rapid deforestation

periodic devastating cyclones

• deforestation;
• overgrazing;
• soil exhaustion;
• soil erosion;
• periodic droughts

very few perennial streams

deforestation; soil erosion

• lowlands seasonally flooded;
• deforestation;
• overgrazing;
• soil erosion;
• desertification

• lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare;
• short droughts possible;
• no fresh water - catchments collect rain;
• 40 granitic and about 50 coralline islands

• extensive mangrove swamps hinder access to sea;
• deforestation;
• soil degradation

• recurring droughts;
• frequent dust storms over eastern plains in summer;
• deforestation;
• overgrazing;
• soil erosion;
• desertification

lack of important arterial rivers or lakes requires extensive water conservation and control measures

• dominated by the Nile and its tributaries;
• dust storms;
• desertification

• lack of water and tsetse fly limit agriculture;
• recent droughts affected marginal agriculture;
• Kilimanjaro is highest point in Africa

• hot, dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in north during winter;
• recent droughts affecting agriculture;
• deforestation

wildlife sanctuary

• deforestation;
• overgrazing;
• soil erosion;
• desertification

• straddles Equator;
• deforestation;
• overgrazing;
• soil erosion

• hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring;
• widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility;
• sparse water and arable land

• deforestation;
• soil erosion;
• desertification

• recurring droughts;
• floods and severe storms are rare;
• deforestation;
• soil erosion;
• air and water pollution

• mostly uninhabitable;
• katabatic (gravity-driven) winds blow coastward from the high interior;
• frequent blizzards form near the foot of the plateau;
• a circumpolar ocean current flows clockwise along the coast as do cyclonic storms that form over the ocean;
• during summer more solar radiation reaches the surface at the South Pole than is received at the Equator in an equivalent period;
• in October 1991 it was reported that the ozone shield, which protects the Earth's surface from harmful ultraviolet radiation, had dwindled to the lowest level ever recorded over Antarctica;
• active volcanism on Deception Island and isolated areas of West Antarctica;
• other seismic activity rare and weak

covered by glacial ice

Ile Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul are extinct volcanoes

primarily used for research stations

• reindeer, introduced early in this century, live on South Georgia;
• weather conditions generally make it difficult to approach the South Sandwich Islands;
• the South Sandwich Islands are subject to active volcanism

sparse population confined to small settlements along coast; continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island

subject to earthquakes and volcanic activity

barren volcanic island with some moss and grass; volcanic activity resumed in 1970

great calving glaciers descend to the sea

• damaging earthquakes occur in Hindu Kush mountains;
• soil degradation,
• desertification,
• overgrazing,
• deforestation,
• pollution,
• flooding

• pollution of Razdan and Aras Rivers;
• air pollution in Yerevan;
• energy blockade has led to deforestation as citizens scavenge for firewood, use of Lake Sevan water for hydropower has lowered lake level, threatened fish population

local scientists consider Apsheron Peninsula, including Baku and Sumgait, and the Caspian Sea to be "most ecologically devastated area in the world" because of severe air and water pollution

• vulnerable to droughts;
• much of country routinely flooded during summer monsoon season;
• overpopulation;
• deforestation

violent storms coming down from the Himalayas were the source of the country name which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon

archipelago of 2,300 islands

• frequent typhoons (about five times per year along southern and eastern coasts), damaging floods, tsunamis, earthquakes;
• deforestation;
• soil erosion;
• industrial pollution;
• water pollution;
• air pollution;
• desertification

• air pollution,
• particularly in Rustavi;
• heavy pollution of Kura River,
• Black Sea

• droughts, flash floods, severe thunderstorms common;
• deforestation;
• soil erosion;
• overgrazing;
• air and water pollution;
• desertification

• many dormant and some active volcanoes;
• about 1,500 seismic occurrences (mostly tremors) every year;
• subject to tsunamis

drying up of Aral Sea is causing increased concentrations of chemical pesticides and natural salts; industrial pollution

mountainous interior is isolated, nearly inaccessible, and sparsely populated; late spring droughts often followed by severe flooding

• occasional typhoons bring high winds and floods;
• earthquakes in southwest;
• air pollution in large cities

NA

1,200 coral islands grouped into 19 atolls

harsh and rugged

• contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks;
• deforestation;
• soil erosion;
• water pollution

• frequent earthquakes, occasionally severe especially in north and west;
• flooding along the Indus after heavy rains (July and August);
• deforestation;
• soil erosion;
• desertification;
• water logging

• despite its size, only a small percentage of land is arable and much is too far north for cultivation;
• permafrost over much of Siberia is a major impediment to development;
• catastrophic pollution of land, air, water, including both inland waterways and sea coasts

• occasional cyclones, tornados;
• deforestation;
• soil erosion

NA

• contamination of soil and groundwater with agricultural chemicals,
• pesticides;
• salinization,
• water-logging of soil due to poor irrigation methods

drying up of the Aral Sea is resulting in growing concentrations of chemical pesticides and natural salts

frequent hurricanes, other tropical storms (July to October)

• subject to hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October);
• insufficient freshwater resources;
• deeply indented coastline provides many natural harbors

lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt

subject to hurricanes and other tropical storms that cause extensive flood damage

subject to hurricanes (especially June to October)

frequent devastating hurricanes (September to December) and coastal flooding (especially in south); deforestation

subject to hurricanes and tropical storms from July to October

within the Caribbean hurricane belt

• subject to occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast;
• frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season;
• active volcanoes;
• deforestation;
• soil erosion

averages one hurricane every other year

flash floods a constant hazard; occasional hurricanes

subject to occasional hurricanes (July to October); deforestation

• the Land of Volcanoes;
• subject to frequent and sometimes very destructive earthquakes;
• deforestation;
• soil erosion;
• water pollution

lies on edge of hurricane belt; hurricane season lasts from June to November

subject to hurricanes (June to October); La Soufriere is an active volcano

• numerous volcanoes in mountains, with frequent violent earthquakes;
• Caribbean coast subject to hurricanes and other tropical storms;
• deforestation;
• soil erosion;
• water pollution

• lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October;
• occasional flooding and earthquakes;
• deforestation;
• soil erosion

• subject to frequent, but generally mild, earthquakes;
• damaging hurricanes and floods along Caribbean coast;
• deforestation;
• soil erosion

• subject to hurricanes (especially July to November);
• deforestation;
• water pollution

subject to hurricanes, flooding, and volcanic activity that result in an average of one major natural disaster every five years

subject to severe hurricanes from June to November

• mostly exposed rock,
• but enough grassland to support goat herds;
• dense stands of fig-like trees,
• scattered cactus

• Curacao and Bonaire are south of Caribbean hurricane belt, so rarely threatened;
• Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius are subject to hurricanes from July to October

• subject to destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, and occasional severe hurricanes;
• deforestation;
• soil erosion;
• water pollution

dense tropical forest in east and northwest

• many small rivers and high central mountains ensure land is well watered;
• south coast relatively dry;
• fertile coastal plain belt in north

subject to hurricanes (July to October)

• subject to hurricanes and volcanic activity;
• deforestation;
• soil erosion

subject to hurricanes; Soufriere volcano is a constant threat

outside usual path of hurricanes and other tropical storms

30 islands (eight inhabited); subject to frequent hurricanes

• rarely affected by hurricanes;
• subject to frequent severe droughts, floods, earthquakes;
• lack of natural freshwater resources

subject to destructive earthquakes; tsunami occur along southwestern coast

deforestation, overgrazing

population is concentrated on eastern lowlands because of steep slopes, poor soils, and low temperatures elsewhere

southern part of Belarus highly contaminated with fallout from 1986 nuclear reactor accident at Chornobyl'

air and water pollution

• air pollution from metallurgical plants;
• water scarce;
• sites for disposing of urban waste are limited;
• subject to frequent and destructive earthquakes

• subject to earthquakes, landslides;
• deforestation;
• air pollution

• air pollution from metallurgical plants;
• damaged forest;
• coastal pollution from industrial and domestic waste;
• subject to frequent and destructive earthquakes

NA

air and water pollution

• air heavily polluted with sulphur dioxide from oil-shale burning power plants in northeast;
• radioactive wastes dumped in open reservoir in Sillamae, a few dozen meters from Baltic Sea;
• contamination of soil and ground water with petroleum products, chemicals at military bases

precipitous terrain limits habitation to small coastal lowlands; archipelago of 18 inhabited islands and a few uninhabited islets

permanently wet ground covers about 30% of land; population concentrated on small southwestern coastal plain

most of large urban areas and industrial centers in Rhone, Garonne, Seine, or Loire River basins; occasional warm tropical wind known as mistral

• air and water pollution;
• groundwater, lakes, and air quality in eastern Germany are especially bad;
• significant deforestation in the eastern mountains caused by air pollution and acid rain

natural freshwater sources are meager, so large water catchments (concrete or natural rock) collect rain water

subject to severe earthquakes; air pollution

large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port

urban

levees are common along many streams, but flooding occurs almost every year

deforestation

strong westerly winds prevail

• regional risks include landslides,
• mudflows,
• snowslides,
• earthquakes,
• volcanic eruptions,
• flooding,
• pollution;
• land sinkage in Venice

about 30% of population concentrated in Saint Helier

• heightened levels of air and water pollution because of a lack of waste conversion equipment;
• Gulf of Riga and Daugava River heavily polluted;
• contamination of soil and groundwater with chemicals and petroleum products at military bases

variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation

• risk of accidents from the two Chernobyl-type reactors at the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant;
• contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum products and chemicals at military bases

deforestation

• numerous bays provide good harbors;
• fresh water very scarce;
• increasing reliance on desalination

• heavy use of agricultural chemicals, including banned pesticides such as DDT, has contaminated soil and groundwater;
• extensive erosion from poor farming methods

almost entirely urban

without an extensive system of dikes and dams, nearly one-half of the total area would be inundated by sea water

Macedonia suffers from high seismic hazard; air pollution from metallurgical plants

• air and water pollution;
• acid rain;
• note - strategic location adjacent to sea lanes and air routes in North Atlantic;
• one of most rugged and longest coastlines in world;
• Norway and Turkey only NATO members having a land boundary with Russia

plain crossed by a few north flowing, meandering streams; severe air and water pollution in south

Azores subject to severe earthquakes

• frequent earthquakes most severe in south and southwest;
• geologic structure and climate promote landslides;
• air pollution in south

dominated by the Appenines

• coastal water pollution from sewage outlets, especially in tourist-related areas such as Kotor;
• air pollution around Belgrade and other industrial cities;
• water pollution along Danube from industrial waste dumped into the Sava which drains into the Danube;
• subject to destructive earthquakes

severe damage to forests from "acid rain" caused by coal-fired power stations

• Sava River polluted with domestic and industrial waste;
• heavy metals and toxic chemicals along coastal waters;
• near Koper, forest damage from air pollutants originating at metallurgical and chemical plants;
• subject to flooding and earthquakes

deforestation; air pollution

water pollution; acid rain

dominated by Alps