Many challenges continue to face the nations forming the western bulge of Africa.
Some of the primary difficulties include limited physical resources, a long cycle of inadequate rainfall, a rapidly growing population, and stagnant economies. Complex challenges such as these dictate a critical need to manage and conserve West African resources properly. In addition to protecting their resources, West Africans also must take care to avoid further degradation of their biophysical riches. It is impossible to examine freshwater ecosystems and their management in West Africa without examining direct human needs. These principals should be the basis for freshwater ecosystem management in the sub-region.