encouraging tree planting. However, these measures have often resulteo in a net reduction of fuel supplies to the poorest parts of the population. 3. Oil 129. African oil production declined considerably in 1981. From a total of nearly 294 million tonnes in 1980, production fell 23 per cent to rouehly 226 million tcnnes in 1981. The loss in production was the result of the world-wide elut on the oil Larket cause : by the recession in in cust rialize ( economies together with the rise of over 100 per cent in oil prices in 1978-1980. Facec with higher oil prices incustrializeo countries reduce~ oil consumption to such an extent that further cuts in production faile c to maint2.in prices, which began to slide by the end of 1981. Worst-affectec were the African mem­ bers of OPEC, whose combinec procucticn fell tc 172 million ton­ nes, 29.7 per cent less than in 1980, while non-members increased their production by 9.3 per cent tc arounc 54 ~illion tonnes. The latter benefited from price flexibility nne from the fact that many of them had newly ciscoverec oil cepcsits, which hac t6 be brought into operation to recover the hieh cost of explora­ tion. 130. The over-supply on the worlc market uorsened in 1982: demanc in the OECD countries fell by a further 12.3 per cent af­ter 12.9 per cent in 1980. The pressure on prices intensified, ana African OPEC me~bers sufferec serious set-br~cks in their eJ(­ port markets. An indication of the pressure en prices is the evolution of OPEC spot prices: fer Al[eria the price of Saharan Blend fell to $35.3 a barrel in Septerr.ber 1982, comparee to $36.2 in September 1981; for Nigeria, spot prices fer Bonny Li[ht fell 
**Analysis**
The text discusses the decline of oil production in Africa, its impact on the global market, and the subsequent effects on prices and exports. It also touches on the theme of environmental measures, specifically tree planting, having unintended consequences on fuel supplies. The text appears to be focused on the economic and environmental aspects of oil production, rather than other categories.

**Category**
Natural resources and environment, Economic development