Environmental degradation: CSOs advocate nature based solutions
A coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) has advocated the adoption of ‘nature based solutions’ to address the current environmental degradation which has been identified as the major factor responsible for farmers/herders clashes across the country.
The CSOs to that regard, advised Bauchi state government to embark on construction of water reservoirs, reactivation of malfunctioned mini earth dams and adoption of rain harvesting as part of measures to re-green the already devastated land mass.
These were part of the decisions forwarded by the Network of Civil Society Organization on Water Sanitation and Hygiene (NEWSAN) to the Bauchi state government, as part of activities marking the end of a weeklong program of the World Water Day held in the state.
Mr. Abu John, spokesman of NEWSAN that lead an advocacy team to the ministry of environment regretted that deforestation activities continue unabated as people cut down trees without making any effort to replace them.
“Water is vital for man and animal survival and government should therefore embark on aggressive afforestation programme as well as enforce available laws to protect the environment considering the fact that water level is getting lower due to activities of man”. He said.
John also advised the government to support irrigation system of farming to create jobs for the unemployed and to promote public, private partnership in the provision of water for the rural communities to stem rural/urban migration.
In her remark, Bauchi state Commissioner for Environment, Honorable Rifkatu Samson Danna said government would opt for provision of local wells in place of modern boreholes following the increasing number of malfunctioned boreholes spread across the state.
The Commissioner who appraised the effort of some Bauchi based NGOs including the Development Exchange Center(DEC) for promoting environmental protection services, assured that government would partner the CSOs to achieve the goal of raising awareness on the importance of preserving nature for the good of man and animals.
