Ecology and Politics

These proceedings report on the interrelationship between ecology and politics. The study demonstrates the complexity of these relations. An analysis of environment and security, for instance, cannot be carried out solely through an ecological interpretation. Decision-making and the interests of populations influence how natural resources are utilized. There is a political dimension to environment management. Conflicts and ecological stress are, therefore, interrelated. The issue deserves further attention, since future key issues for Africa certainly include the problem of "ecological refugees" and sustainable usages of natural resources, adding to the more conventional security issues which relate to political boundaries and assets shared by several countries.