The official United Nations (UN) declared date of WDCDD June 17 of every year, however, this year's date coincided with the organization of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development-Rio+20 summit which has just ended in brazil.
It is for this reason that this year’s celebration in Ghana has been shifted to the 26th of June.
The global theme for this year’s celebration is “Healthy Soils sustains your life: Let’s go land degradation neutral” and the national theme is “Healthy Soils Sustain your life: Stop Land Degradation”.
As part of this year’s celebration, twenty thousand seedlings of Nim, Teak and Acassia have been imported out of which ten thousand are to be planted in Kumbungu and its environs whiles the remaining distributed to other communities.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as part of the celebration, awarded three NGOs, two youth groups, three senior high schools, five communities and four individuals with cutlasses, wellington boots and some pesticides among others.
The Acting Executive Director of the EPA, Daniel Amlalo said the national theme buttresses the need for society to avoid land degradation.
He said the unsustainable use of lands leads to progressively lowering crop yields, increase cost of production and end up in land abandonment.
Mr Amlalo added that the fact that the world’s population is forecasted to rise from its current seven billion to eight billion people by 2025 with a huge demand for food highlights the reason soils need to be enhanced and preserved.
The Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Sherry Ayittey said the three northern regions are the most affected regions in the country by droughts.
She said while efforts are being made to improve the soil, majority of the people in the districts are involved in sand winning.
Madam Ayittey pointed out that sand winning is negative to good soil management and it takes the soil five hundred years to regain its agricultural status.
She added that it is worrisome that every degree in temperature rise will negatively affect agriculture.
Adding, the effect will be less food for the increasing population of the country. She urged the people to protect the lands for future generations.
A statement read by the Upper East Regional Minister Mark Woyongo on behalf of the Northern Regional Minister Moses Bukari Mabengba echoed that of Madam Ayittey regarding land degredation.
He said it has also brought on its way poverty, suffering, deprivation and also severely threatened the continuous survival of large numbers of people in northern Ghana.
The sustained exploitations of savannah resources to satisfy economic needs have led to deforestation, destruction of wild life habitats and resource deflation.
The Minister acknowledged the efforts of chiefs in the regions in fighting desertification and assured chiefs in the regions of his full support in programmes designed to save the environment.
Meanwhile, the chief of Kumbungu, Naa Alhaji Iddrisu Abu who chaired the occasion expressed his heart-felt gratitude to the Northern Regional Coordinating Council, the Ministry for Environment, Science and Technology and the Environmental Protection Agency.
He said the entire people of Kumbungu are grateful that they have been chosen as the venue for this year’s National Celebration of World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought.
Naa Abu said the day which has been earmarked for sensitizing all on the causes, effects and impacts of desertification and drought makes it significant in the lives of the people.
Naa Abu added that he is of the belief that the occasion will be used to suggest alternatives for managing the environment and its resources.
Naa Abu on behalf of the chiefs and people of Kumbungu traditional area affirmed their commitment towards reversing desertification and drought in the area.
He further stated the readiness of chiefs in the region to support government and donor partners to fight desertification and drought in the northern region.
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