A great amount of destruction of the natural environment is occurring in Africa.  This is not solely due to human activities; Africa's natural characteristics have also contributed to these unfortunate problems.

The lack of consistent rainfall is one of the most troublesome of Africa's natural problems.  The climate in general tends to be very dry, and very unpredictable.

Natural disasters are common and highly destructive.  Storms, floods, droughts, and desert locusts all commonly degrade environments and ruin habitats.

As world temperatures threaten to rise, Africa's climate can only get worse.  The region could become even dryer in the future, which would seriously disrupt natural ecosystems and make farming even more difficult.

Farming is also hindered by the poor quality of Africa's soil.  Many countries suffer from phosphorus deficiency, low content of organic matter, and low water infiltration and retention capacity in their soil.

Inequitable distribution of natural resources is another serious problem.  Water is available in large quantities in some parts of the continent, but not in others.  Often, a tremendous lack of water occurs in some areas while abundant water supplies remain untapped in others.  Scattered water supplies also make farming very difficult, because irrigation is seldom possible and uncertain rainfall means that crops are highly susceptible to drought.

Africa is rich in natural resources.  However, it has been unable to exploit these resources because it lacks capital, knowledge, and technology.  The poor distribution of Africa's natural resources and other major problems have prevented development.