Africa: Combating Desertification in Plans and Actions

2021 ◽  
pp. 98-107
Author(s):  
Nina Grishina
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Productivity Loss ◽  
International Community ◽  
Humanitarian Assistance ◽  
Technical Equipment ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Combating Desertification

The article raises the problem of desertification in Africa and the expansion of the largest African deserts. The essence of desertification is defined as the degradation of land areas suitable for agricultural activities, which is expressed in the deterioration of soil properties, salinization of ground water, reduction of biological productivity, loss of the ability of the ecosystem to recover. The author considers that the desertification is caused by the negative impact of anthropogenic activities, lack of water resources, deforestation, salinization of soils, degradation of pastures and land, and climate change. Examples of international contacts in combating desertification and of the activities of the local population in this direction are given. Among the harmful consequences of the expansion of the desert zone the author mentions negative changes in the way of life of the local population that has existed for centuries, the increase in the flow of forced migrants to regions with a milder climate, cities or outside their States. The problem of desertification came to the attention of the international community in the 1970s after the disastrous drought in the Sahel in the late 1960s and mid-1970s. The package of measures proposed to eliminate the consequences of droughts and fight the onset of sand primarily included humanitarian assistance. Measures to improve the local environmental management system, which required significant technical resources and material investments, were carried out partially. The results of numerous regional and international symposiums devoted to desertification issues are usually a statement of the existence of the problem itself and a resolution of a recommendatory nature. In addressing this issue, the governments of the African countries concerned rely on the assistance of the international community or individual states with highly qualified personnel and the necessary technical equipment. The main aspect of combating desertification is the development of international norms and rules that should reflect ways to restore soil fertility and contain scientific planning methods for the use of new agricultural land. Obstacles to the implementation of concrete measures to curb desertification include the economic weakness of the states concerned, the lack of clear environmental plans and reliance on national human resources.

scholarly journals Impact of Abandoned Land on Environmental Protection, Landscape and Economic Benefit in Lithuania

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rimvydas Gaudėšius ◽  
Virginija Gurskienė ◽  
Vida Maliene
Keyword(s):  
Economic Activity ◽  
Economic Benefit ◽  
Agricultural Development ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Anthropogenic Activity ◽  
Human Economic Activity ◽  
The Republic ◽  
The Impact

Human economic activity is defined as an anthropogenic process that has a negative impact on natural environment. The urbanisation and agricultural development influence the environment mostly. In order to receive economic benefit to the above-mentioned activities, the landscape is changed, the soil is affected and pollutants are released into the environment. In the light of the fact that the identified processes and problems caused by them are global, the variety of international directives are designed to minimise the impact of anthropogenic activities on the environment. The territory of the Republic of Lithuania has a considerable amount of areas, where the economic activity is suspended, i.e. the land is abandoned. This is due to a variety of social, natural and economic reasons. This process can be perceived as opposite to the anthropogenic activity, however it is important to examine how it affects the environment, landscape or economic needs. These processes are relevant on the local and international level, therefore, the scientific results of this article may be useful for the professionals in various areas and further research. The research investigates the territory of abandoned agricultural land, which is to be urbanised in the future. Land cadastre data, spatial planning documents are analysed, a questionnaire-based survey is conducted, and the actual inspection in the area is carried out. The research results identify the causes for non-use of the land, and the impact of no economic activity on the environment, the landscape and the economic performance. To reach the set objectives, the data analysis, synthesis, induction methods have been used.

CONSERVATION OF RARE SPECIES PLANTS AND LICHENS IN SITU WITH PLANNED ANTHROPOGENIC ACTIVITIES: BASIC APPROACHES AND IMPLEMENTATION PRINCIPLES

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 38-45
Author(s):  
A. N. EFREMOV ◽  
N. V. PLIKINA ◽  
T. ABELI
Keyword(s):  
Rare Species ◽  
Technology Implementation ◽  
Technology Development ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Main Stage ◽  
Social Risks

Rare species are most vulnerable to man-made impacts, due to their biological characteristics or natural resource management. As a rule, the economic impact is associated with the destruction and damage of individual organisms, the destruction or alienation of habitats. Unfortunately, the conservation of habitat integrity is an important protection strategy, which is not always achievable in the implementation of industrial and infrastructural projects. The aim of the publication is to summarize the experience in the field of protection of rare species in the natural habitat (in situ), to evaluate and analyze the possibility of using existing methods in design and survey activities. In this regard, the main methodological approaches to the protection of rare species in the natural habitat (in situ) during the proposed economic activity were reflected. The algorithm suggested by the authors for implementing the in situ project should include a preparatory stage (initial data collection, preliminary risk assessments, technology development, obtaining permitting documentation), the main stage, the content of which is determined by the selected technology and a long monitoring stage, which makes it possible to assess the effectiveness of the taken measures. Among the main risks of in situ technology implementation, the following can be noted: the limited resources of the population that do not allow for the implementation of the procedure without prior reproduction of individuals in situ (in vitro); limited knowledge of the biology of the species; the possibility of invasion; the possibility of crossing for closely related species that сo-exist in the same habitat; social risks and consequences, target species or population may be important for the local population; financial risks during the recovery of the population. The available experience makes it possible to consider the approach to the conservation of rare species in situ as the best available technology that contributes to reducing negative environmental risks.

scholarly journals Conservation research output in sub-Saharan Africa is increasing, but only in a few countries

Oryx ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
P. Christy Pototsky ◽  
Will Cresswell
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Research Output ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Search Term ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Research Papers ◽  
North American Country ◽  
Conservation Research ◽  
Sub Saharan

Abstract We tested if peer-reviewed conservation research output has increased in sub-Saharan African countries over the last 30 years in response to increased development. We carried out a bibliometric analysis to identify the number of conservation research papers published by national authors of 41 sub-Saharan African countries during 1987–2017, to provide an index of national conservation research output. We identified country-specific development factors influencing these totals, using general linear modelling. There were positive relationships between conservation research output and population size, GDP, literacy rate, international tourism receipts and population growth rate, and negative relationships with urban population and agricultural land cover, in total explaining 77% of variation. Thirty-eight per cent of countries contributed < 30 conservation research papers (of 12,701) in 30 years. Analysis of trends in primary authorship in a random subsample of 2,374 of these papers showed that primary authorship by sub-Saharan African authors has increased significantly over time but is now at a lower rate than primary authorship for authors from countries outside the country associated with the search term, usually a European or North American country. Overall, 46% of papers had national primary authors, but 67% of these were South African. The results show that conservation research output in sub-Saharan Africa overall is increasing but only significantly in a few countries, and is still dominated by non-national scientists, probably as a result of a lack of socio-economic development.

scholarly journals Natural and human-induced factors controlling the phreatic groundwater geochemistry of the Longgang River basin, South China

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 203-219
Author(s):  
Wei Li ◽  
Xiaohong Chen ◽  
Linshen Xie ◽  
Gong Cheng ◽  
Zhao Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Groundwater Quality ◽  
Chemical Evolution ◽  
South China ◽  
Major Ions ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Flow Direction ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Ionic Composition ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Ammonia Concentration

AbstractGroundwater chemical evolution is the key to ensuring the sustainability of local society and economy development. In this study, four river sections and 59 groundwater wells are investigated in the Longgang River (L.R.) basin in South China. Comprehensive hydrochemical analysis methods are adopted to determine the dominant factors controlling the chemical evolution of the local phreatic groundwater and the potential impact of human activities on groundwater quality. The results indicate that the ionic composition of the local phreatic groundwater is dominated by Ca2+ (0.9–144.0 mg/L), HCO3− (4.4–280.0 mg/L), and SO42− (1.0–199.0 mg/L). Ca–Mg–HCO3, Ca–Na–HCO3, and Na–Ca–HCO3 are the major groundwater hydrochemical facies. Water–rock interactions, such as the dissolution of calcite and dolomite, are the primary source of the major ions in the local groundwater. Cation-exchange reaction has its effects on the contents of Ca2+, Mg2+, and Na+. Ammonia concentration of the sampling sections in the L.R. increases from 0.03 to 2.01 mg/L along the flow direction. Groundwater nitrate in the regions of the farmland is attributed to the lowest level of the groundwater quality standards of China, while the same test results are obtained for heavy metals in the industrial park and landfill, suggesting a negative impact of the anthropogenic activities on the local phreatic groundwater quality.

scholarly journals Values and Preferences for Domestic Water Use: A Study from the Transboundary River Basin of Mékrou (West Africa)

Water ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1232
Author(s):  
Vasileios Markantonis ◽  
Celine Dondeynaz ◽  
Dionysis Latinopoulos ◽  
Kostas Bithas ◽  
Ioannis Trichakis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
West Africa ◽  
Willingness To Pay ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Citizen Participation ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Western World ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Domestic Water ◽  
Water Provision

Water is indispensable for human life and sufficient domestic use is considered as a regularity in the western world. The conditions are substantially different in African countries where poverty and lack of life-supporting services prevail. The provision of domestic water is an essential problem, which requires action. The lack of sufficient funding for the development of infrastructure supports claims for citizen participation in related costs. However, can citizens pay and to what extend for sufficient water provision? The present study investigates a household’s willingness to pay for domestic water in the transboundary Mékrou River Basin in West Africa (Burkina Faso, Benin and Niger) and explores the payment for domestic water provision to poverty. The paper uses the results of a household survey that was undertaken in the Mekrou basin including a representative sample from all three countries. Based on this survey the paper presents basic socio-economic characteristics of the local population as well as qualitative water provision and management attributes. In the core of the econometric analysis the paper presents the results of the survey’s Contingent Valuation (CV) scenario estimating the households’ willingness to pay (WTP) for a domestic water provision. The households of the Mekrou basin are willing to pay 2.81 euro per month in average for a domestic water provision network but this is strongly related with the wealth of households. This finding although it may support the “user pays principle”, it also raises serious questions over the provision of water to poor households.

scholarly journals STIGMA-STATISTIK: Når dagsordener sættes i dansk aids-politik

1996 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jens Seeberg
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Public Debate ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Infected Person ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Aids Policy ◽  
The Impact

Jens Seeberg: Stigma Statistics: Agendas in the Making in Danish AIDS Policy This article explores a number of paradoxes and assumptions in the public debate on AIDS in Denmark. They form part of a recurrent attack on the Danish ‘soft line’ AIDS policy that maintains anonymity and voluntary HIV-testing. One central issue in recent years has been obligatory testing of asylum seekers from high risk areas as a precondition for considering the asylum request. Especially asylum seekers from African countries are pointed out as constituting a major threat to the native Danish population in terms of spread of HIV. This is shown to rest on a misreading of the official statistics, repeated as often as the statistics themselves. The assumption that there is a basic clash between the human rights of the HIV-infected person and the population in general is discussed. This conceived clash rests on the assumption that restrictions of the human rights of the HIV-infected person will provide efficient protection for the noninfected majority. The potential counterproductive effects of this line of thought are discussed. Contact tracing is sometimes considered as an effective preventive measure. Part of the critique of the present AIDS policy States that contact tracing is virtually non-existing and that this has a major negative impact on the preventive efforts. It is argued that while the impact of contact tracing in itself may be rather limited, the lack of contact tracing may be seen as a symptom of insufficient counselling. While obligatory HIV testing may never be practiced in Denmark, its recurrent appearance on the agenda serves to provoke a defensive stand among AIDS policy makers. It is argued that this debate has hitherto had the effect of keeping the needs of HIV-infected people - and especially HIV-infected immigrants — away from public debate and serious concern.

scholarly journals Early-Onset Parkinson Disease Screening in Patients From Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lukasz M. Milanowski ◽  
Olajumoke Oshinaike ◽  
Benjamin J. Broadway ◽  
Jennifer A. Lindemann ◽  
Alexandra I. Soto-Beasley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Functional Analysis ◽  
Parkinson Disease ◽  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Early Onset ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Age At Onset ◽  
Compound Heterozygous ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Age Related

Introduction: Nigeria is one of the most populated countries in the world; however, there is a scarcity of studies in patients with age-related neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson disease (PD). The aim of this study was to screen patients with PD including a small cohort of early-onset PD (EOPD) cases from Nigeria for PRKN, PINK1, DJ1, SNCA multiplication, and LRRK2 p.G2019S.Methods: We assembled a cohort of 109 Nigerian patients with PD from the four main Nigerian tribes: Yoruba, Igbo, Edo, and Hausa. Fifteen cases [14 from the Yoruba tribe (93.3%)] had EOPD (defined as age-at-onset &lt;50 years). All patients with EOPD were sequenced for the coding regions of PRKN, PINK1, and DJ1. Exon dosage analysis was performed with a multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification assay, which also included a SNCA probe and LRRK2 p.G2019S. We screened for LRRK2 p.G2019S in the entire PD cohort using a genotyping assay. The PINK1 p.R501Q functional analysis was conducted.Results: In 15 patients with EOPD, 22 variants were observed [PRKN, 9 (40.9%); PINK1, 10 (45.5%); and DJ1, 3 (13.6%)]. Three (13.6%) rare, nonsynonymous variants were identified, but no homozygous or compound heterozygous carriers were found. No exonic rearrangements were present in the three genes, and no carriers of SNCA genomic multiplications or LRRK2 p.G2019S were identified. The PINK1 p.R501Q functional analysis revealed pathogenic loss of function.Conclusion: More studies on age-related neurodegenerative diseases are needed in sub-Saharan African countries, including Nigeria. Population-specific variation may provide insight into the genes involved in PD in the local population but may also contribute to larger studiesperformed in White and Asian populations.

scholarly journals An Examination of Drivers of Financial development: Evidence in West African Countries.

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 132-143
Author(s):  
Adewosi, O. Adegoke ◽  
Manu Donga ◽  
Adamu Idi ◽  
Buba Abdullahi
Keyword(s):  
Financial Development ◽  
Developing Economies ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Trade Openness ◽  
Government Expenditure ◽  
Political Stability ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
West African ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Panel Data Estimation

Financial development has been considered to play a vital role in promoting rapid growth and development of the developing economies. This paper examined the drivers of financial development in West African Countries. Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo over the period of 2000 to 2015, with the proper utilization of panel data estimation technique on the annual country data obtained from World Development Indicators (WDI) 2016 and Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI) 2016. The results reveals that some important variables such as coefficient of rule of law, political stability, foreign direct investment, government expenditure, inflation and savings positively determined financial development. While, credit to private sector, GDP, interest rate, trade openness, and capital formation were found to negative impact on financial development. The study then recommends amongst others formulation and implementation of fiscal and monetary policies that foster financial development.

scholarly journals LEGAL REGULATION OF WASTE MANAGEMENT IN UKRAINE AND THE EU

2020 ◽  
pp. 67-78
Author(s):  
Oleksandr Balobanov ◽  
◽  
Anastasiia Shparlo ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Waste Management ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Legal Regulation ◽  
State Regulation ◽  
Regulatory Framework ◽  
Technical Equipment ◽  
European Legislation ◽  
European Standards ◽  
Maritime Infrastructure

Ensuring the environment is safe for human life and health is one of the vital goals of the entire world community. Seaports inevitably affect the atmosphere, hydrosphere and soil. The main source of environmental pollution are merchant ships, which produce the most danger for the marine environment. The solution to the problem of waste management should be carried out through the state regulation, which should take into account the national characteristics of the population and the positive experience of European legislation. The author notes that the effective functioning and development of seaports depends on a number of factors, including the level of their technological and technical equipment, development of maritime infrastructure, compliance of the management system with modern international requirements, provision of regulatory framework. The current legislation of Ukraine and the requirements of the European legislation in the field of waste management are considered and analyzed. Approaches to solving the global problem in the context of European integration are proposed, namely: creating the necessary regulatory framework to reduce ship waste and cargo residues into the sea, as well as preventing or limiting the negative impact of seaports on the environment and human health; creation of modern infrastructure. The lack of regulation has a direct impact on the environment, on the efficiency of not only the port and transport industry, but also the economy as a whole. The study aims to highlight a fundamental criterion − waste management in the ports of Ukraine. It is concluded that in Ukraine there is no clear organizational structure of waste management. The author concludes that it is necessary to use European standards for waste management in ports

scholarly journals A Review of piggery manure management: generally, across western, Asian and African countries

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-27
Author(s):  
James Buttie Machete ◽  
Ricks G Chabo
Keyword(s):  
Negative Impact ◽  
Biogas Production ◽  
Animal Manure ◽  
Living Standards ◽  
Manure Management ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Rapid Economic Growth ◽  
Growing Pig ◽  
The World ◽  
Causative Agents

The aim of this paper was to review the piggery waste management aspects in several countries of the world. Intensive livestock production produces significant quantities of waste that must be managed to protect water, air, and crop quality. The high demand of modern animal production has been influenced by the rapid growing populations as a result of rapid economic growth and increase in community living standards which is associated with the accelerated generation rate of solid waste causing a serious worldwide challenge. Piggery waste is said to be one of the most important causative agents of environmental pollution in most parts of the world. A growing pig population is unavoidable because it is a convenient source of protein to the growing human population and at the same time this means increasing piggery waste. Animal manure can provide nutrients for crops and fish production and input for biogas production, but if not managed, then this can also have a negative impact on the environment. Nevertheless, there are few countries who are considering legislation in relation to manure management.

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