This book is a current, comprehensive and holistic assessment of the challenges facing a developing African state within the global context and is an up-to-the-minute review of the state of the South African environment. From bio-diversity to GM crops, from policies to attitudes, this insightful view is presented in James Clarke's accessible and entertaining manner. He looks at air, water (incl. marine), soil, nature conservation, urban environment, population dynamics (incl. AIDS) and solid waste management. The 'soil' chapters examine forestry and natural forests, erosion, pesticides including South Africa's return to using DDT, and battles with locusts. The urban chapter looks optimistically at urbanisation both globally and locally.