Introduction
This paper addresses the link and impact of poverty on the environment in southern Africa and also looks at causes of poverty, poverty/ resource utilisation. Finally it addresses policy/strategies for poverty alleviation in southern Africa/ Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
The future of the environment in southern Africa is in the hands of its people- numbering about 136 million expected to double in the next 24 years (Chenje, 1994). Poverty in southern Africa/SADC region has been described as “one of the root causes of environmental degradation” and poses a threat to human health. Poverty is both the cause and result of environmental degradation. Rapid population growth in a situation of limited livelihood options is a major factor in growing poverty and environmental degradation in the whole of the southern African region. Once a community is subjected to poverty, there is a vicious poverty-environment circle, which is difficult to break. It is generally believed that poverty and environmental degradation are linked in vicious circle in which people cannot afford to take care of the environment and lack clean water and sanitation.
Poverty is a major cause and consequence of environmental degradation and resource depletion that threaten the SADC region. Major environmental challenges include deforestation, soil degradation and desertification, declining biodiversity and marine resources, water scarcity, and deteriorating water and air quality. Urbanisation is an emerging issue, bringing with it the range of human health and environmental problems well known in urban areas throughout southern Africa and the world at large. Growing “environmental debts” in many countries are a major concern because the cost of remedial action will be far greater than preventative action.
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