II.

Land and Resources

Niger may be divided into three zones, the northern, central, and 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 plateaus and mountains and, except in scattered oases, has little vegetation. In this zone is Monts Bagzane (2,022 m/6,634 ft), the highest elevation in the country. The central zone, known as the Sahel, is semiarid and lightly wooded. The southern zone is a fertile, forested area that benefits from adequate rainfall and, in the southwest, from the periodic overflow of the Niger River, virtually the only river in the country. On the southeast, the nation borders on one of the largest lakes of the continent, the shallow Lake Chad.

A.

Climate

The climate of Niger is hot and, in most areas, dry. Rainfall, negligible in the north, increases to 813 mm (32 in) a year in the south. In the south a rainy season lasts from June to October. The average annual temperature at Niamey, in the southeast, is 29°C (85°F).

B.

Plants and Animals

The northern desert of Niger has little vegetation. In the south are extensive savanna grasslands and, in the lowlands, a variety of trees, including baobab, tamarind, kepok, and a species of mahogany. Animal life includes elephant, buffalo, antelope, giraffe, and lion.

C.

Natural Resources

Niger has diverse mineral resources, most of which remain to be exploited. Large deposits of high-grade uranium ore are found in the north. Other minerals present include coal, tin, gold, phosphate, iron ore, and copper.

D.

Environmental Issues

Soil erosion and desertification resulting from overgrazing and poor land management have reduced the productivity of the country’s farmland. Burning wood and other traditional fuels accounts for 80 percent of the country’s energy consumption, and the need for firewood is contributing to deforestation.

Niger’s poorly developed infrastructure contributes to the spread of infectious diseases. Only 61 percent (1990-1998 estimate) of Niger’s population has access to safe water, and only 19 percent (1990-1998 estimate) of the population is serviced by adequate sewage systems.

About 7.7 percent (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.