Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
6
Conclusions
Drought and desertification continue to threaten the livelihoods of millions of people
in Niger, increasingly making them unable to edge out of poverty. This trend is set to
worsen with the onset of climate change, to which many regions in Niger are most
vulnerable.
Mitigation measures and management options include both long term measures
and short and medium term measures:
Long Term Measures include:
Pre-disaster planning to control drought:
Thi
s
includes integrated river basin
development, development and implementation of a Strategic Planning Framework
for the protection and sustainable management of natural resources and integrating
them into National Development Plans (see MTAP). This is a strategy designed
for intensive and multipurpose development of surface and ground water resources.
Most important under this heading is definition of criteria for risk identification,
risk prevention, mitigation, preparedness, relief plans, recovery and rehabilitation
and comprehensive financial planning (which includes identifying funding sources)
for the vulnerable population.
Agro-climatological research and proper land-use planning:
Technical solutions
include desalination, and watershed management. Large scale desalination maybe
impractical because of the distance to the sea but re-use of irrigation drainage
and brackish ground and surface water may be feasible. Watershed management
is most suitable and this can be achieved through proper erosion control, water
harvesting, water absorption capabilities and regulation of river flow through the
use of dams and barrages. Use of large scale reforestation activity (green dam) on
arid land planted to protect arid areas from sand encroachment and deforestation.
Use of shelterbelts (row of trees) along roads and suburbs using drip irrigation
with high drought resistant trees such as
Eucalyptus
,
Casuarina
,
Acacia
, cypress
and gum-arabic trees. Increased fodder and forage production advocated with a
view to increasing family incomes thereby reducing pressure on nearby rangelands.
Mechanical stabilization of dunes prior to biological fixation with vegetation.
Reforestation and afforestation schemes with shelterbelts and tree planting for
ameliorating local climate conditions and check desert encroachment and wind
erosion and also regulate sand dunes fixation.
Short Term Measures
: Short term measure to control drought and desertification
are usually taken during or after the occurrence of the events usually, short term
reactions to crisis situation.
Provisions of Drought Relief Schemes:
They include:
•
Food distribution or relief materials to victims with assistance of international
relief agencies such as Red Cross, UNICEF, and UNEP etc.
•
Emergency sinking of wells and boreholes, and construction of small irrigation
works. Rehabilitation and Recovery programs and their integration into National
Development Plans including afforestation and reforestation.
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