II.

Land and Resources

Niger is divided into three zones: the northern, the central, and the southern. The northern zone, covering more than half of the total area of the republic, lies within the Sahara. It is a highland region of plateaux and mountains and, except in scattered oases, has little vegetation. In this zone is Mount Bagzane (1,900 m/6,234 ft), the highest point in the country. The central zone, known as the Sahel, is semi-arid and lightly wooded. The southern zone is a fertile, forested area that benefits from adequate rainfall and, in the south-west, from the periodic overflow of the River Niger, virtually the only river in the country. On the south-east, the nation borders on one of the largest lakes of the continent, the shallow Lake Chad. Environmental problems persist due to desertification from overgrazing, recurring droughts, and deforestation.

A.

Climate

The climate of Niger is hot and, in most areas, dry. Rainfall, negligible in the north, increases to 560 mm (22 in) a year in the south, where a rainy season lasts from June to October. The average annual temperature at Niamey is 29.4° C (85° F).

B.

Natural Resources

Niger has diverse mineral resources, many of which remain to be exploited. Large deposits of high-grade uranium ore are mined in the north at Arlit and Akouta. Phosphates are mined in the Niger valley, and coal and tin ore deposits are also exploited. Salt is mined on a large scale. Other minerals include iron ore and copper. Diamonds and tungsten have also been found.

C.

Plants and Animals

The northern desert of Niger has little vegetation. In the south are extensive savannah grasslands and, in the lowlands, a variety of trees, including baobab, tamarind, kepok, and a species of mahogany. Animal life includes buffalo, antelopes, giraffes, and a few lions.

D.

Environmental Concerns

Niger is one of the poorest and least developed countries in the world and the country's natural resources are under pressure from its rapidly increasing population. About 7 per cent (1991) of Niger's workforce is involved in agriculture, the majority practising subsistence farming. Soil erosion and desertification resulting from overgrazing and poor land management are reducing the productivity of the country's farmland. Burning wood and other traditional fuels accounts for 80 per cent of the country's energy consumption, and the need for firewood is contributing to deforestation. In 1995 the World Bank approved a US$26.7 million credit towards a management programme to reverse the deterioration of Niger's land and natural resources. Other programmes include promoting family planning in order to try to reduce the population growth rate.

Niger's poorly developed infrastructure contributes to the spread of infectious diseases. Only 61 per cent (1990-1998 estimate) of Niger's population has access to safe water, and only 19 per cent (1990-1998 estimate) of the population is serviced by adequate sewage systems. About 7.7 per cent (1997) of Niger's land is officially protected. Although Niger has banned hunting throughout the country, rampant poaching seriously threatens wildlife populations. Niger has ratified international treaties protecting biodiversity, endangered species, wetlands, and the ozone layer. The country has also signed treaties that limit nuclear weapons testing, chemical and biological weapons, and hazardous waste. Niger is party to the World Heritage Convention, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Man and the Biosphere Program, and the African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Reserves. It has also signed the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.