As the world wakes up to increasing threats of desertification, the Environment and Rural Development Foundation (ERuDeF) on June, 17, 2013 joined in the commemoration of this year’s edition of World Desertification Day under the theme “Drought and Water Scarcity” with an apt slogan “Don’t Let Our Future Dry Up”.  

ERuDeF used this day to launch the pioneer environmental newspaper in the country; The Green Vision.

ERuDeF CEO Louis Nkembi said desertification remains one of the biggest threats plaguing the environment.

He quoted the example of Northern Cameroon which suffers the highest rate of dryness.

Nkembi said desertification, just like other environmental problems, could be better handled if people are informed.

“It is, therefore, not a coincidence that we chose this day to launch The Green Vision because we believe its presence on the newsstands would inform people on how to tackle desertification and other environmental problems,” said the ERuDeF CEO.

“Don’t Let Our Future Dry Up” is an appropriate slogan given that water crises are plaguing most parts of the world, and research has shown that only small amounts of water are potable.

According to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), of all the water on earth, only 2.5% is fresh water which is available for animals and humans. 70 % of the freshwater available globally, is held in the soil and is accessible only to plants.

According to UNCCD, each person needs at least 2000 cubic metres of water per year for sustainable development. However, those in the dry lands have access only to 1300 cubic metres which accounts for their high poverty levels.

The prolonged droughts in the Horn of Africa in 2011 and the Sahel 2012 resulted in humanitarian crisis, leaving millions hungry and malnourished, especially children.

Unlike earthquakes and other natural disasters, droughts and desertification are predictable and their effects can be mitigated, avoided and even reversed through the planting of trees.

Thus, in response to the threats of desertification, ERuDeF has been setting up strategies that seek to address drought preparedness and risk management, as opposed to disaster management.

In this regard, through tree planting, the restoration of degraded landscapes in the Western highlands of Cameroon is being achieved.

Since 2007, the emerging conservation organisation has planted over 4 million agro-forestry trees, non-timber forest tree species and recently threatened trees within the landscape.  

All of these are aimed at restoring the degraded landscapes while ensuring sustainable land management and soil improvement. Through this, a significant increase in income levels of the poor and rural people who depend solely on agriculture for livelihood in these areas have equally been recorded.

“Don’t Let Our Future Dry Up” is a clarion call for everyone to take action to promote preparedness and resilience to water scarcity, desertification and drought.  

We are all responsible for water, land conservation and sustainable use. Land degradation does not have to threaten our future.

By Asa’a Lemawah