ENVIRONMENT: Dersertification is a Serious Problem that is Threatening the Arid and Semi Arid Regions...

By : Sammeni Kamsobbi

Dersertification is a serious problem that is threatening the Arid and Semi Arid regions of the World. It is mostly caused by human activities and climate factors. The consequences of this monster are habitat fragmentation, loss of biodiversity, loss of soil nutrients, erosion, low crop yield, low and erratic rainfall poverty, hunger and migration from rural to urban areas.

In Nigeria, areas comprising Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Bauchi, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi States are threatened by desertification.

The Federal Government adopted the United nations convention on Great Green Wall to tackle the menace of desertification in the affected States.

The Great Green Wall is a wall of trees that stretches from Kebbi to Borno State which covers seven States while Kano, Bauchi, Gombe and Adamawa States establishes Woodlots,Orchards and Vegetables Gardens.

The objective of the programme is to:

1. Combat the menace of desertification

2.  Improve the lively wood of the benefiting communities through skills acquisition

3. Create employment through the recruitment of forest Guards, reduce rural migration through the provision of boreholes

4. Water trough for livestock and financial assistance to registered associations.

In Adamawa State, the programme started in 2013 in 6 communities in three LGAs, namely Madagali (Wagga and Gulak communities), Michika (Moda and Tudunwada Bazza communities), and in Mubi North (Vimtim and Muchalla communities. In 2015 the programme was extended to Mada, Pella, and Loko in Guyuk, Hong and Song LGAs respectively