Report of the Secretary-General on the Pan-African Conference on Environment and Sustainable Development - Bamako. Mali.

Abstract

Prior to the 1968-73 Sahelian tragedy, environmental concerns in Africa were largely absent or peripheral to development policies. The continent has since experienced continuous ecological deterioration, including recurrent droughts and other disasters. The severe 1984-85 drought and famine highlighted to African Member States the critical link between economic development and sound environmental management, though practical integration into policy remained limited. A significant shift occurred during the 25th Anniversary of the OAU, where the Addis Ababa Declaration committed Heads of State to environmental protection.