Hi group, In the December/January issue of Africa Geographic there appears an article on the effects of Global Warming on Africa. They state that the average temperature in Africa has increased by 1° C since the mid-19th century and optimistic forecasts predict another increase of 2° C by 2100. The last time there was a 3° C shift, the earth was plunged into an ice age. They also explain that heat doesn't necessarily mean less rain, East Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands are likely to see more while North and Central Southern Africa will receive up to 20% less rain. They also predict that Kilimanjaro will be glacier-free by 2020 as will Mount Kenya and the Rwenzoris in Uganda, there has already been an 80% decrease in Kilimanjaro's icecap. Similarly the Rocky Mountains in America are melting away. Because temperature changes with altitude plants and animals are migrating up away from the heat. High-altitude species will be first to go extinct - they have nowhere to go. Contrary to what Alberto's expert said, they have found that an increase in the oceans surface water temperature is making it more difficult for cold, deep water to reach the top. This nutrient-rich water is essential for phytoplankton, the first link in the food chain, to flourish. The same is happening in the Great Lakes where phytoplankton production is already down by 20%. Sea levels will also rise another 20 to 80 centimeters this century due to melting ice but also because warm water takes up more space than cold water. This is bad news for the Seychelles. Warmer oceans will show more frequent 'bleaching' of coral reefs and ultimately alter our weather. And as if this isn't bad enough, the level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere right now will stay there long enough to keep temperatures rising for over a century, regardless of the Kyoto Protocol. I can only wonder how many species will survive in cultivation and how they will continue to evolve? Regards, Pieter van der Walt South Africa