ENTenvironment@dai,ytrust.com ENVI RO NM
DAILY TRUSTThursday,
February 10, 2011
HOTLINE: 08036417326
Global warming to rise from 1.4 to 5.8 degrees by 2100 By Nasir Imam NIGERIA is likely to experience an increase in global warming from 1.4 'c to S.8'C over the period 1990 to 2100. The assertion was made by the Bread of Life Development Foundation in collaboration with the Water and Sanitation Media Network when they
organised a Dialogue on Water and Climate Change on February 2 in Lagos. A statement Signed by Babatope Babalobi, Executive Director, Bread of Life Development Foundation, Michael Simire, Lagos State Coordinator, Water and Sanitation Media Network, said rainfall variability in Nigeria is likely to have
a drastic effect on river discharges. A deficit of 20 to 30% in rainfall results in a water shortage or deficit of 40 to 60%. CliIhate Change is also expected to' have the following impacts on Nigeria's water sector - increases in sea surface temperature and mean global sea level, changes in salinity, wave conditions, and ocean cir-
culation; disruption of marine ecosystems dynamiCS, with significant impacts on fishdependent human societies; and increased levels of flooding. accelerated erosion,loss of wetlands and mangroves, and seawater intrusion into freshwater sources. Other consequences of drought in Northern Nigeria
include a decrease of water table flows in the alluvial aquifers, resulting in a decrease of base flows; a decrease of the nondissolved solid transportation capacity due to the severe low flows; and a reduction of the capacity of rivers in sediment transport while air, mechanical and hydraulic erosion has been accentuated.
NEST begins climate change adaptation tour From Hir Joseph, lafia A team from the Voluntary Service Organization (VSO) is undertaking a study tour of some of the communities benefitting from a project known as Building Nigeria's Response to Climate _Change (BNRCC). The project is designed )0 build climate change adaptation among communities in Makurdi, Kano, Cross River, Bauchi and Maiduguri. The BNRCC project is also working to help build informed responses to climate change in Nigeria by enhancing capacity at the community, state and national levels to implement effective climate change adaptation strategies, policies and actions. BNRCC is funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and is managed and implemented by a consortium ofVSO and Marbek Resource Consultants in partnership with the Nigerian Environmental Study/ Action Team (NEST). Team leader of NEST Dr. Brent Tegler said the assessment of the team, would yield positive adaptation of communities to climate change. 芦They (partners) have worked very well with communities there. They are beginning to understand the problems with communities regarding climate change. The main problem is water scarcity. But working with communities. there are viable changes, including water harvesting and making of dams in low line areas to hold water for dry season. They have also introduced drought resistant crops, bee keeping for honey production as well as citrus plantations to help communities survive without endangering their environment:' Teggler said.
Illegal bush burning destroys vegetation in Nasarawa From Hir Joseph, lafia ILLEGAL bush burning by some deviants in Nasarawa State has cleared a wide expanse of vegetation and thereby contravenes the State's environmental laws. Environmental authorities are said to have continued to look the other way as if there was nothing wrong with the development, some observers said. Mrs. Esther Dogos is the General Manager ofNasarawa Environmental Protection Agency, saddled with the responsibility of enforcing the law. When contacted over the persistent problem of bush burning in the state, she said she is aware of it but was in a meeting and cannot make any contribution. Daily Trust observed that the illicit act is fast gaining grounds in the state, the way it is in the neighboring communities ofBenue State.
While somdndulge in the act in order to clear grasses around their homes, many set the bushes ablaze to clear the way for game hunting. This is the period for game hunting in many parts of ihe country especially in North-central, and the two neighboring states ofNasarawa and Benue are notorious for such practices. Many communities have tried on their own to formulate and enforce regulations to stop the illicit act, but only the elderly seem to be complying, while the youths who always go in search of game act with defiance. "In our 路community, as it is in neighboring places, youths have become defiant to regulations against bush burning, and there is nothing. elders alone can do to stop the trend," said an elder of Agyaragu along Lafia-Makurdi Road. The elder who gave his name only as Egye, said bush burning has
become a tradition among the communities in the state, stressing it will be difficult to stop the people. Our correspondent observed that the illicit act has so far cleared bushes along major roads running through the states as no day passesby without dozens of bush fire sites witnessed in the state, an act that causes environmental degradation and aggravates climate change. Further observation shows that while the illicit act is being carried out with impunity, members ofvari0us communities are being affected on a daily basis as many reports indicated that not less than a dozen houses and other property including farms have been razed by uncontrolled bush fires. "Bush fires razed many houses here and in neighboring communities. It is a yearly occurrence, which affects thatch huts mostly," Egye
said. Bush burning and other illegal practices affecting the environment have attracted the concern of Building Nigeria's Response on Climate Change (BNRCC), a project working to help build informed responses to climate change in the country, who are now in the state to create public awareness on the dangers of bush burning. They are doing this through capacity building at the community, state and national levels to implement effective climate change adaptation strategies, policies and actions. BNRCC is funded by Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and is being managed and irnplemenled by a consortium of CUSo-VSO and Marbek Resource Consultants in partnership with the Nigerian Environmental Study/ Action Team (NEST).