In terms of forests, a total of about 9.4 million hectares of world forests (an area equivalent to the total area of Japan’s Chugoku, Shikoku and Kyushu regions) were lost to large-scale forest fires, excessive harvest of wood for fuel, overgrazing and commercial logging in the decade between 1990 and 2000.

Soil degradation is caused not only by climatic factors but also is aggravated by human activities such as agriculture, grazing and improper logging that lead to deforestation. The UNEP reports that about 15% of the earth’s land area is affected.

Furthermore, the occurrence of yellow sand and the frequency of its movement in the northeast Asian region, including China, have increased in recent years. According to newspaper reports, the large-scale yellow sand fallout that took place in 2002 was of such severity that visibility in China was so poor that it was impossible to see the building next door, airports and schools were closed down in Korea, and regional transportation in Kyushu, Japan was disrupted.

Today, many countries are faced with various water problems. Over 3,000 people died in a flood along China’s Chang Jiang River basin in 1998. About 13 million people in southern Africa faced a serious food crisis in 2002 caused by a drought said to occur once every decade.

### 3. State of the Global Environment Seen from Its

## Relationship with the Society and Economy

The global increase in environmental load is linked to the society and economy in a complex manner.

For example, while globalization of the economy helps eco-conscious products and technologies to various countries world, the international distribution of goods may also increase energy consumption and cause problems with the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes. Furthermore, the deterioration of the environment in developing countries caused by excessive cultivation, grazing and logging of forests exceeding their natural recovery capacity will not only make it difficult to secure sufficient resources and food and worsen poverty but also cause conflict and give rise to environmental refugees.

With regard to the relationship between population increase and the water issue, the UN World Water Development Report pointed out that the increase in population also increases the demand for water and lowers the per capita water supply. The concentration of population in the cities of developing countries due to population growth and poverty further worsens the problem. In fact, about 170 million people in cities and 920 million people in rural areas do not have access to safe water supply. Without a

Soil Degradation by Region

Note: Australasia stands for Australia, New Zealand and their surrounding islands. Source: World Atlas of Desertification 2nd Edition 1997, UNEP

Soil Degradation by Major Cause

Note: (Bio)industrial activities include the accumulation of urban and industrial waste, the excessive use of pesticides, oil spills, and acidification caused by airborne pollutants.

Source: World Atlas of Desertification 2nd Edition 1997, UNEP

World Population Growth and Changes in Freshwater Use

Water Supply and Sanitation Coverage by Region

Water supply	Population (2000)	Population served (2000)	Population (2015)
Africa	Urban	297	253 (85%)	501
Rural	487	231 (47%)	577
Asia	Urban	1,352	1,254 (93%)	1,943
Rural	2,331	1,736 (74%)	2,404
Latin America and the Caribbean	Urban	391	362 (93%)	504
Rural	128	79 (62%)	127
Oceania	Urban	21.3	21 (99%)	25.7
Rural	9.1	5.7 (63%)	10.4
Europe	Urban	545	542 (99%)	566
Rural	184	161 (88%)	154
North America	Urban	239	239 (100%)	278
Rural	71	71 (100%)	66
Total	6,055	4,956 (81.8%)	7,154

Sanitation	Population (2000)	Population served (2000)	Population (2015)
Africa	Urban	297	251 (85%)	501
Rural	487	220 (45%)	577
Asia	Urban	1,352	1,055 (78%)	1,943
Rural	2,331	712 (31%)	2,404
Latin America and the Caribbean	Urban	391	340 (87%)	504
Rural	128	62 (48%)	127
Oceania	Urban	21	21 (100%)	25.7
Rural	9.1	7.3 (80%)	10.4
Europe	Urban	545	537 (99%)	566
Rural	184	137 (74%)	154
North America	Urban	239	239 (100%)	278
Rural	71	71 (100%)	66
Total	6,055	3,652 (60.3%)	7,154

Note: Since figures are rounded off, the sum of the numbers may not add up to the figures in the "Total" column. Source: Global Water and Sanitation Assessment 2000, WHO