Donald L. Sparks

Southern Africa’s maritime interests are considerable: its oceans and ports are essential to the wealth of the region, are crucial for trade and are an important source of employment, food and energy. However, regional governments do not place sufficient attention on the Blue Economy and its potential to stimulate economic growth. Of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, goal Number 14 (Life Below Water) is the least funded. Less than 1% of Official Development Assistance goes toward this goal, and even private investment and funding from philanthropic organizations is grossly inadequate to meet Africa’s blue economy needs. It is vital for the international community to face up to the challenges of Africa’s Blue Economy and start working on solutions and for southern Africa’s Blue Economy policies and goals to be expanded. Just as sustainable development green initiatives show promise, so too could Blue Economy projects and activities. Southern Africa’s rich coastal and marine resources need to be managed on both a national and regional level if they are to be used in a long-term, sustainable way. This book provides, for the first time, a concise study of the constraints and opportunities that the Blue Economy offers for southern Africa and the role that the Southern African Development Community (SADC) could play in fostering a sustainable use of its ocean and coastal resources.

Southern Africa’s maritime interests are considerable: its oceans and ports are essential to the wealth of the region, are crucial for trade and are an important source of employment, food and energy. However, regional governments do not place sufficient attention on the Blue Economy and its potential to stimulate economic growth. Of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, goal Number 14 (Life Below Water) is the least funded. Less than 1% of Official Development Assistance goes toward this goal, and even private investment and funding from philanthropic organizations is grossly inadequate to meet Africa’s blue economy needs. It is vital for the international community to face up to the challenges of Africa’s Blue Economy and start working on solutions and for southern Africa’s Blue Economy policies and goals to be expanded. Just as sustainable development green initiatives show promise, so too could Blue Economy projects and activities. Southern Africa’s rich coastal and marine resources need to be managed on both a national and regional level if they are to be used in a long-term, sustainable way. This book provides, for the first time, a concise study of the constraints and opportunities that the Blue Economy offers for southern Africa and the role that the Southern African Development Community (SADC) could play in fostering a sustainable use of its ocean and coastal resources.

Environmental Soil Chemistry, Third Edition provides an up-to-date overview of the interdisciplinary field of environmental soil chemistry. This classic text covers the fundamental principles of soil chemistry, including the inorganic and organic components of soil, soil porewater chemistry, interfacial chemical reactions between solids and dissolved ions/molecules, ion exchange, and the kinetics of the soil chemical process, such as sorption and redox. Soil acidity and salinity are also discussed. This fully updated third edition places particular emphasis on environmental reactions between clay minerals, metal oxides, and soil organic matter with heavy metals, pesticides, and industrial contaminants. This text provides the latest technological advances representing the cutting edge of the science. Completely updated throughout with new content and updated full color figures, the third edition contains expanded information on soil minerals and an increased emphasis on the coupling between chemical and biological reactions, mechanisms, and processes. This third edition provides upper-level undergraduate and graduate students in soil science with sound contemporary training in the basics of soil chemistry and applications to real-world environmental concerns. The book offers a competitive advantage for those students looking to incorporate novel, advanced tools into their research.