"Whatever meagre resources that are available to any African nation should be judiciously applied to solving the basic welfare needs of the country's population." . . . Ste/Ia Ogbuagu University of Calabar, Nigeria - crease their foreign exchange earnings and pay their external debt are increasing their export of natural resources such as wood and minerals. This has often resulted in extensive deforestation as a result of logging and clearing of forests to establish • mines. Such activities compromise the ability of the continent to act as a sink for carbon dioxide. Amid the seemingly catastrophic situation are numerous signs of hope: while governments search for alternative economic policies, local communities are starting to harness their resources to deal with their immediate problems. Experiments with re-vegetation, alternative fuels and technologies and different production systems are becoming the order of the day in many communities across the continent. Governments and local institutions have been dealing with short-tenn economic and ecological problems. Concerns about the effects of global warming and climatic change are emerging at a time when Africa is starting to re-think its future. These concerns not only make the development agenda more complicated, but they add to the urgency of finding solutions to the persistent problems and preparing the populations to deal with the long-term effects of climatic change. However, state preparedness and information bases are still weak and their capability to mobilize resources to deal with environmental problems are still limited. But despite these concerns, Africa cannot wait. Indeed, reducing the vulnerability of these countries calls for urgent policy measures. Expected Impacts The climate of a region or sub-region cannot be assumed to be a steady unchanging phenomenon. During this century, the African continent has experienced marked fluctuations in rainfall patterns. However, the seriousness and severity of the 196873 Sahelian drought (which has lingered on until 1985), brought to the world atten- tion through the public media, was most acutely felt in 15 African countries. Droughts and floods. Today, 36 African countries are affected by drought; five states in the northern Sahara region, 21 in the Sudano-Sahelian region and lOin the Kalahari desert area. Some 19 Out of the 36 countries fall under the category of least developed countries. Indeed, drought has had a profound effect on the socioeconomic activities of these countries, including migration of pastoralists to the urban centres as well as triggering reductions in crop yields. There is consensus among scientists that global warming will make the dry areas drier and wet areas wetter, bringing about a global climate of extremes. Since humans are unable to prevent droughts or storms, the next best option is to predict their occurrence so that appropriate actions can be taken to mitigate their adverse effects. In Africa, climate exerts significant control over development programmes. Further developments will have to be planned carefully bearing in mind the sensitivity of the region to climatic variations. For example, irrigation and hydroelectric schemes may be found to have inadequate or excessive water supplies - 'The need for immediate for- eign exchange to repay unending debts forces developing countries into environmentallyexploitative economic practi- - -i "f ces." - J OkyeamaAmpadu-Agyei, En vironmental Protection Council, Ghana cT~_ - -