the potential future implications of avoiding these issues, and have 

 chosen to act and keep the problem from escalating any further. 



Various techniques have been developed, many by African farm- 

 ers, to claim degraded soil and increase crop jdelds. Another hope- 

 ful sign is that many of the wildlife and natural park services in 

 the continent are training others in the importance of protecting 

 biodiversity, and are designing programs committed to this end. 



It is no longer just the international community attempting to 

 address these issues. It is the people of the African continent who 

 are gradually becoming active participants in protecting their fu- 

 ture oy safeguarding their ecological past and present. 



To reiterate, African countries working to protect their environ- 

 ment are in fact also protecting and contributing to the health of 

 the global environment. 



Thus, our witnesses here today will discuss these issues from 

 multiple viewpoints. From the U.S. perspective, from the global 

 perspective, and from the perspective of African countries. 



Before I introduce our panelists, I would like to have the mem- 

 bers of our subcommittee make opening statements, if they could. 

 Mr. Frazer. 



Mr. Frazer. Thank you. Madam Chairperson, and welcome to 

 the witnesses, who take this opportunity to come this morning to 

 apprise us of the problem in Africa. 



We are on this subcommittee because we are concerned about the 

 situation in Africa. I am not going to reiterate those areas that you 

 have already covered. But we recognize that there is a conflict be- 

 tween daily existence in Africa and environmental concerns. 



I was in Africa about 5 weeks ago, and I recognize that often- 

 times the choice is very difficult between the people who have to 

 make a sustenance, daily sustenance, or to protect the environ- 

 ment. 



Soil erosion is a major problem that you spoke of. Many of the 

 African countries, as you said, do not have the luxury to engage in 

 environmental concern. I think that it behooves the international 

 community to come to its rescue. Not that the African countries 

 themselves are not concerned about their problems; yes, they are. 

 But too often, they do not have the resources. And I think that it 

 is important that the international community does that on their 

 behalf. 



I recognize that we have taken a lead, and I applaud you for 

 holding this hearing today. I hope that the invited guests will en- 

 lighten us to the situation that we may not already know about. 



I trust that my colleagues here on this panel, and as a matter 

 of fact I am sure, that they will address those same issues. And 

 again, thank you for the opportunity to be here. And welcome to 

 the witnesses who will enlighten us on the situation that we are 

 all prepared to address. 



Ms. Ros-Lehtinen. Thank you so much, Mr. Frazer, 



Mr. Johnston of Florida. 



Mr. Johnston. Just brief! v. Madam Chair. I do not have a pre- 

 pared statement. But I would like to make the observation made 

 by the Audubon Society. That the biggest cause of degradation to 

 our environment is people and too many of them. 



