Bees/v; Development Journal 86
ZOOM
IN
Area
ON- LIBERIA
111,369 km2
Climate Hot and humid with high rainfall. The dry season from October to April has hot days and cool to cold nights. The rainy season is wet and cloudy with frequent heavy showers (Apri! to October).
Vegetation Three areas - Mangrove swamps and beaches along the coast, wooded hills and semi deciduous scrublands along the immediate interior, and
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dense tropical forests and plateaux in the interior. Liberia has 40% of West Africa's rain forest.
Population
LIBERIA
COTE D'IVOIRE
3.3 million e MONROVIA
People Ethnic groups: Kpelle 20%, Bassa 16%, Gio 8%, Kru 7%, 49% Spread over 12 other ethnic groups
Religions: Christian 40%, Muslim 20%, animist 40% Education: Literacy (2003) 20% AIO
Health: Life expectancy (2005) 42.5 years
ARM
Work force: Agriculture 70%; industry 15%: services 2%. Unemployment is 80% in the formal sector.
Economy GDP (IMF 2005 estimate): US$548.4 million Real GDP growth rate (2005): 5.3%
Per capita GDP (2005): US$119.4 Average annual inflation (2005): 6.9% Natural resources: Diamonds, gold, iron ore, rubber, timber and tin. The Government of Liberia believes there may be sizable deposits of crude oil
along its Aflantic Coast. Trade (2005): Exports US$112 million (of which rubber US$99 million). Major markets Germany, Greece, Poland and USA. imports US$272
million (petroleum US$89 million; rice US$30 million; donor and foreign direct investment-related US$141 million).
J
Kwame Aidoo (right) describes the workings of top-bar hives. This one is ona bamboo hive stand
Kwame Aidoo explains protective clothing
