Africa environment outlook: our environment, our wealth

Economic development in Africa isunderpinned by the quality and integrity of the natural resource base. The regionandrsquos environmental assets provide opportunities for Africa to achieve the objectives of the New Partnership for Africaandrsquos Development (NEPAD) and make good progress towards meeting the targets of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Africa cannot, therefore, afford to lose its environmental assets through degradation. Hundreds of millions of people depend directly or indirectly on these resources. African governments acknowledge this fact and have put in place measures to safeguard this valuable asset, including the adoption of the landmark Lagos Plan of Action in 1980. The Plan proposed concrete measures to address the interface between environment and development, and stipulated, among others, the need for African governments to define realistic policy options, strategies and programmes for incorporating environmental onsiderations in development planning