RESTORING NIGERIA’S DEGRADED LANDSCAPES FOR SUSTAINABILITY, STABILITY AND FOOD SECURITY

By Uche Isieke

Throughout the world history, one of the greatest and persistent threats to human existence and survival has been land degradation. The menace of land degradation has brought unimaginable increase in hunger, poverty, migration and insecurity. According a World Bank statistics, about 52.22% of Nigeria’s population live in rural community and are worst affected in any occurrence of natural disaster.

Nigeria has about 34723.85ha of cultivated area but due to over-use and intense impact of various human influences on the environment, land and its nutritive values have continued to dwindle both geologically and climatically, over the years. (FAO 2015)

According to available data by the Joint Research Center of the European Union, from 2000-2010, Nigeria has lost about 463,300ha of forest, as the net production dynamics of the year 199-2013 shows that 360,440ha has already declined. About 1,786,200ha has showed early sign of decline while 117,940ha has changed from forest to cropland. Also early sign of declining and decline it’s being witnessed in some 22,170ha and 1,590ha respectively.

A total Soil Organic Carbon (a major determinant of soil fertility) loss of 1,307,187tons has been estimated for the change of forest land and other land use, which represents 0.04% of the national soil carbon stock.

The issue of land degradation has brought instability which is caused by the lack of unemployment and income generating opportunities for the rural livelihoods, especially the youth. This has forced many to seek alternatives far from their home community.  This has further explained how the menace of land degradation and social economic disenfranchisement contributes to insecurity and the risk of radicalization and increased exposure to extremist group in Nigeria.

In the bid to halt the further   degradation of land, restore and revert same, a sustainable approach to increase food security, fight hunger and deal with this major contributor to migration of people in search of land and natural resources for survival.

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification(UNCCD) Conference Of Parties in 2015 endorsed SDG target 15.5 with the aim to combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought  and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation neutrality world by 2030.

The use of charcoal for fuel is a major source of degradation. The practice cannot be stopped without making alternative provisions for the poor rural women; even as efficient cook stoves are one way to reduce fuel demand while other heating sources as LPG could also be provided. The argument has been to what extent the use of the alternative source –a fossil fuel- delivers a genuine climate benefit, compared to wood-base charcoal. A call for strategic work to all stakeholders to more sustainable alternatives.

The government through its relevant agencies should as a matter of urgency ensure that citizens are adequately informed and mobilized to jettison unfriendly environmental practices. This unfriendly behaviors to the environment manifest in such ways as: over-exploitation and poor use of the natural resource base; reduced flows of water quality; excessive soil erosion, gully and increased sediment loading water bodies; loss of carbon sinks, habitat loss and threats to biodiversity and more.

STRATEGIC APPROACH TO LAND DEGRADTION AND FOOS SECURITY

The growing food demand  as a result of Nigeria’s growing population and declining  harvest have continued to strain supply, increased malnutrition  and counters poverty alleviating  progress being made. In order to have a sustainable climate smart agriculture, there is the need to put into consideration, challenges of food security and climate change; agricultural productivity, support increase in farm incomes and enhance food security and rural development. It is an initiative that could help enhance adaptation, build agricultural resilience and food security to climate change while contributing significantly, in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from crops, livestock etc.

Halting deforestation and the conservation of remaining natural forest and also reversing land degradation is important. Farmers can take an agro-ecological initiative that has capacity to increase the resilience of the farming methods. This is as it opposes such measures that promote high external input farming which enhances to climate change impact. Adopting improved practices is transformational as it could facilitate improved yields with improved diets; growth in productivity and possible reinvestment in rural communities as parents can afford sending their children back to school. This can further help in reducing food import and carbon emissions.

The use of agro-forestry can be an option for carbon fixing with the estimated lifetime benefit and total emission reductions ranging from 158 million tons to 712millions. This can achieve a measurable reduction of methane emission for livestock which come from improved breeding and feeding. Another example can be seen on how ranched cows can produces better enriched milk and beef.

To further achieve this global initiative, a multi-sectorial approach is required among stakeholders, especially relevant government MDAs at federal, state and local levels to set up a Land Degradation Neutrality Unit to be saddled with the responsibility to implement the LDN. There the need for collaboration among community based organizations, private sector and NGOs on how key into various multilateral, bilateral and national projects and programmes that addresses issues of land degradation in order to achieve the target 15 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

In addition , responsible government institutions should develop and enforce a land degradation tailored legislation; obtain funding from the National Ecological Fund, increase budget and seek other donor agencies involvement; promote land degradation-related capacity building and research activities; develop a sustainable  LDN-awareness campaign at all levels of  federal and state governments; develop new approach to indigenous  projects for conservation and Sustainable Land Management techniques; work to implement mitigation measures such as agroforestry/Sustainable landscape practices as to achieve the LDN; and initiate sustainable funding mechanisms for land degradation activities.

There is also the need to mainstream Nigeria’s Land degradation neutrality voluntary targets and strategic implementation actions and measures as to achieve her voluntary target setting across local, state and federal governments.  Adopting and implementing best sustainable land management practices would mean multiple job creation for the rural men, women and youth, increase in food security and also land degradation free and a more secured Nigeria. Let’s get involved!