Swaziland

I

Introduction

Swaziland, small, independent monarchy, southern Africa, bordered on the east by Mozambique and on the south-east, south, west, and north by South Africa. One of the smallest of the continental African states, it has an area of 17,363 sq km (6,704 sq mi). The capital of Swaziland is Mbabane.

II

Land and Resources

Swaziland is roughly oval-shaped and straddles the broken and dissected edge of the South African plateau. The elevation of the land decreases from west to east. There are four main geographical regions running longitudinally north-south. The mountainous westernmost portion, the Highveld, in places reaches an altitude of more than 1,800 m (6,000 ft) above sea level. The hilly central region, or Middleveld, has an average elevation of about 610 m (2,000 ft). The eastern region, or Lowveld, is a rolling area that averages from 120 to 305 m (400 to 1,000 ft) above sea level. The Lowveld is bounded on the east by the westward-facing scarp of the Lebombo Mountains.

A

Rivers and Lakes

The principal rivers are the Komati, Usutu (Lusutfu), and Umbuluzi. Rainfall, which is concentrated in summer (November to March), is light in the east and heavier towards the west. The climate ranges from tropical in the Lowveld to temperate in the mountains.

B

Environmental Concerns

The pressures from a rural, growing population are taking their toll on the land resources of the small country. Increasingly, overgrazing is causing the soil to be overworked and has resulted in soil erosion. Swaziland's traditional system of communal grazing land eliminates individual responsibility for maintaining the quality of the land. Erosion and poor sewage disposal practices contribute to high levels of water-borne diseases. Only 59 per cent (1990-1998) of the population has access to adequate sanitation, and only 50 per cent (1990-1998) has access to safe drinking water. Although there is currently no appreciable deforestation, demand for fuel wood is rising. In 1995, 8.5 per cent of the country's total land area was forested.

Swaziland has a rich heritage of wildlife conservation that dates from the decades prior to the country's independence. The country has a number of national parks and game reserves that protect a diverse wildlife population, including lions, leopards, rhinoceroses, hippopotamuses, elephants, and many species of antelopes and birds. In all, 2 per cent (1997) of the country's area is protected. Swaziland's parks and wildlife are increasingly popular tourist attractions—in 1998, 325,000 tourists visited the country. However, wildlife is scarce outside of the protected areas, and poaching continues to be a problem. The government has ratified international environmental agreements on biodiversity, climate change, endangered species, nuclear test ban, and ozone layer protection.