Tropical Africa occupies a marginal position in the global economic system, yet it covers an area larger than North and Central America. The region has seemingly insurmountable problems, and an inadequate understanding of its peoples and environments has led to inefficient development strategies and projects which lead to more problems than benefits. Tropical Africareveals the region's diversity and dynamism, showing how its peoples and environments have interacted through time and space. Considerable social, economic and political instability still exist in post-independence nation-states. This book considers development strategies, the environment and cooperation between and within African states as they relate to past, present, and future problems. An assortment of detailed case studies brings these patterns and processes to life in a guide which will be an invaluable resource for those embarking on a study of this dynamic region.