The demands of Africa’s changing environment

2009-01-20T00:39:00.003+01:00

Today, millions of Africans are faced with the reality of an environment they didn’t grow up in. The reality is harsh because within a life time they no longer know or understand the environment which used to sustain their livelihoods. As it often happens, migration is the answer for most African communities. They migrate to encroach on other communities who have what they need for survival. Unfortunately, this trend only reinforces other causes of conflict.

In the face of a changing environment some of the resources on the continent of Africa have become marginally useful or have become useless. If the present tells us anything about the future, then some African communities may no longer exist in the next 50 years. There are changes that need to be made, which will provide understanding of the environment; its potential; and ensure survival on the continent.

What are the alternatives of migrating and how can Africans make their new and emerging environment work for them?

Firstly, we take a look at the new environment. Secondly, we seek solutions to problems posed by these emerging environments.

The desert landscape on the continent is increasing; water bodies on the continent are on the decrease. Some parts of the continent are experiencing very little or no rains; There are torrential rains in other parts. These and similar changes are some of the features of the emerging environment

Lake Chad was once the 6^th largest lake in the world. It has now declined to 1/10^th of its size. The lake is an important life-sustaining system for over 20 million people spread over four countries. The degradation of mangrove forests in the Niger Delta is contributing to the loss of the forest in South West, South East and North West Nigeria.

Unfortunately, increase of the desert landscape on the continent is the cause and the reinforcing element of some conflicts on the continent. Water bodies on the continent are decreasing. This means there is less water for consumption and irrigation than there used to be. Less rainfall in some part of the continent has meant no food on the mats; heavy rains in other parts have swept away farm products and other items of livelihood. These are the various colors of the emerging environment in many rural African communities. The emerging environment in the rural communities have had a great impact on the physical environment in the urban cities- increase in slums and their populations especially on inhabitable lands and overstretched urban facilities.

The picture of the emerging environment and its impact show that Africans are thinking less of meeting the challenges of the new environment and harnessing its potentials. At best, Africa is thinking of keeping the environment as it was. Though it is possible to halt environment degradation by stopping activities which prompted the degradation, it is almost impossible to reverse environmental changes caused by climatic change.

Unfortunately, there is a dearth on scientific researches on disasters, consequently dearth of researches on the impact of scientific projections on peace and development and the development of appropriate policies. According to the International Council for Science Report; Natural and Human Induced Hazard and Disasters in Sub-Saharan Africa September 2007, “The population of Africa, estimated at 880 million in 2005, is increasing at a rate of 2-4% per annum, so the number of people exposed to environmental hazards and disasters will continue to increase while the measures towards reducing them remain of relatively low priority to decision and policy makers in Africa.”

The snowballing impact of climatic change may become a disaster for the continent of Africa rather then a change that can be prepared for. Africa and its population have no choice but to understand its new environment. Afterall, that is how human populations in Africa and elsewhere have survived the changes in the environment in the past millennium.

Applying lessons from the past ensures that there is a future; there can be new inventions that can conquer the environment.

Africans can develop alternative use for a changed environment; explore and develop indigenous innovations in the new environment; invest in developing intellectual capacity to solve environmental issues and develop the culture of information sharing.

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The demands of Africa’s changing environment