World Environment Day, celebrated annually on June 5th, brings global attention to critical environmental issues, urging collective action for a healthier planet. This year’s theme, “Land Restoration, Desertification, and Drought Resilience,” highlights the urgent need to restore degraded lands, combat desertification, and enhance resilience to droughts.
Land degradation affects over a third of the world’s land area, impacting the lives of 3.2 billion people. Degraded lands lose their ability to support plant life, leading to reduced agricultural productivity, increased vulnerability to climate change, and loss of biodiversity.
According to the ELD Initiative, Ghana has 35% of its land under threat of desertification. As a result of land degradation, grasslands, woodlands and forests are being lost while natural water bodies are drying up due to prolonged droughts and sedimentation of water courses.
The dire effects of land degradation, desertification and drought are getting immensely worse due to the consequences of climate change. Moreover, Ghana’s current issue of illegal mining “galamsey” poses a huge threat to our environmental life and agricultural sustainability. The continuous contamination of water bodies and degradation of lands with unsafe chemicals puts the lives of millions of people at risk and worsening the effects of climate change.
We continue to face the environmental risks of these degrading actions through the floods we experience during the raining seasons and the rise of food insecurity. It is time we effectively adopt and implement restoration techniques like reforestation, agroforestry, and sustainable mining management to enhance soil health, water retention, and vegetation cover.
Hope for Future Generations understands the importance of building the capacities of young people in agriculture and fighting the effects of climate change through alliances and advocacy. We have empowered young people in green life interventions such as building and sustaining a green house and producing vegetables for sale, making a positive action in food security. It is not only a way to build the interest of agriculture in the youth but to also provide a means of revenue for them.
Global efforts and individual actions remain crucial to this course. We can all play a role in restoring lands by planting more trees, properl disposal of waste, supporting sustainable products, and advocating for environmental policies.
This World Environment Day, we must reaffirm our commitment to restoring our lands, combating desertification, and building resilience against droughts. By embracing sustainable practices, supporting global initiatives, and taking individual actions, we can protect our ecosystems, ensure food security, and create a sustainable future. Together, we can make a difference and pave the way for a resilient and thriving planet.