ASPECTS OF THE ECOLOGY AND PRODUCTIVITY OF SOME OF 

 THE MORE ARID REGIONS OF SOUTHERN AND EASTERN AFRICA 



Professor J. Phillips, F.R.S.E.* 

 {Achimota, Gold Coast) 



I Introductory Remarks. 



As the purfHjse of the symposium is to study features of the ecology and pro- 

 ductivity of deserts it could, with' justice, be asked why I should deal with regions 

 and phenomena that, for the greater part, fall outside the conception and definition 

 of the desert proper. 



II Objects. 



My objects are:- 



(1) To discuss briefly a few selected climatic regions of desert, sub- desert, arid 

 and sub - arid nature in relation to their actual and possible usefulness and the 

 threat of desiccation to which they are exposed. 



(2) To touch on some of the ecological phenomena and problems in such regions. 



(3) To record some of the major factors, processes and agencies presenting prob- 

 lems in the control of desiccation. 



(4) To suggest ways and means of improving the productivity of some of the regions 

 simultaneously with the control of the march of 'desertification'. 



My reasons are these: Even if we accept the view that climatically the whole 

 or portions of Africa and adjacent regions of Southern Europe, Persia and Arabia, 

 during more recent geological time, have little or no tendency toward increasing 

 aridity and that there is likely to be but slight change in this direction in the coming 

 tens of millions of years, we dare not close our eyes to the portents of a man- in - 

 duced desiccation or 'desertification' associated with the more arid U not truly 

 desert regions of Africa. More cogent even is an attempt to interpret the shape of 

 things to come if we accept as a working hypothesis that we are experiencing today 

 the ushering in of a phase of progressive aridity. If we agree with le Danois (1950) 

 that on a world wide scale deserts have increased within the past 3000 to 5000 

 years — and more particularly in the relevant regions of Asia, Eastern Europe and 

 Africa — and that the sands are driving into drier but not yet desert regions adjacent, 

 there is all the more reason for an emphasis upon the potentials and problems of 

 the regions facing growing danger of desiccation. 



III Some of the Major More Arid Regions. 



In the regions listed below serious local erosion and desiccation problems exist, 

 which, if not solved within reasonable time, are likely to increase the man-made 

 desert. 



• Recently Chief Agricultural Adviser, Overseas Food Corporation (East African Groundnuts 

 Scheme) — Ed. 



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