Since 2011 the international community has been discussing what should follow on from the mdgs in a process that included governments, academics, the private sector and. This is due to the difficulty of balancing environmental and developmental concerns. Environmental degradation is the deterioration of the environment through depletion of resources such as air, water, and soil, the destruction of ecosystems and the extinction of wildlife. To this effect government has put in place a number of interventions that seek to promote or strengthen nrm particularly in tackling the three environmental problems. Both poverty and environmental degradation have been increasing in many developing countries, hence there is a pressing need first to evaluate and analyze the povertyenvironmental degradation nexus, and second, to prescribe policy options to mitigate or eradicate these two problems. It has been suggested as the main cause of biodiversity loss in. Financialization, our findings suggest, provides incentives that encourage governments to neglect environmental. The following terms and abbreviations are used throughout the entry. Land degradation, including overgrazing, is regarded as one of the main environmental problems in southern africa darkoh, 2009.
Eastern province, and zambia by extension, is dominated by vast tracks of fireprone vegetation including woodland savannas and grasslands. Zambia secretariat of the convention on biological diversity. Introduction an environmental problem arises whenever there is a change in the quality or quantity of any environmental factor which directly or indirectly affects the health and wellbeing of man in an adverse manner. It is mandated to do all such things as are necessary to protect the environment and control pollution, so as to provide for the health and. These challenges not only threaten human life and wellbeing, but also impact the global geopolitical and economic landscape. Keeping our planet clean for future generations is one of the most important things we can do with our limited time here, so. Addressing the challenges of food insecurity and environmental degradation in zambia challenge situated at the end of zambias great rift valley, the luangwa valley has ecological riches but pervasive poverty.
Pressure is therefore being exerted on the land, water and atmosphere resulting in the accumulation of biological and chemical pollutants. Background zambias major economic activity is mining, and as at 2005, mining contributed about 65% of export earnings. Major minerals are copper and cobalt copper production stands at 465,000 mt, and is expected to reach about 700,000 mt by 2010. Zambia environmental and climate change policy brief sidas. The devastating effects of environmental degradation a. These include unsustainable agricultural practices, displacements of forests, and environmental degradation manifested in air and water pollution through chemical loading from mining effluents matakala et. The deforestation rate is well above the global and regional average and is closely linked to other key environmental problems such as land degradation, wildlife depletion and loss of biodiversity. This is a statutory body created under an act of parliament the environmental protection and pollution control act eppca of 1990, cap 204 of the laws of zambia. The contribution from old mining legacy sites have shown to be minor compared to current mining operations. Indigenous knowledge is the local knowledge that is unique to a given culture or society. Biodiversity in freshwater bodies face threats such as pollution. Pdf an overview of environmental issues in southern africa.
Since 1992, the countrys national poverty level has marginally declined by only 9. Underdevelopment, resource scarcity, and environmental degradation are cardinal, even existential, threats to human security. Acidification the lowering of soil and water ph due to acid precipitation and deposition usually through precipitation. Instead, drawing particularly on unrisd work, it focuses largely on the social impacts of and responses to environmental degradation in rural areas of the third world. Zambia environmental management agency zema is an independent environmental regulator and coordinating agency, established through an act of parliament, the environmental management act no 12 of 2011. Loss of ecosystem services and environmental degradation is. Throughout the region, the end of the colonial period saw a tremendous expansion of social services, especially in the areas of education and health care. Department, the environmental council of zambia and the ministry of tourism, environment and natural resources mtenr, which is at present the main ministry with responsibility for climate change. Zambia recently discovered uranium deposits in the north western part of the country in upper zambezi river basin and mining is currently under way. Three factors strongly increase the threat of environmental degradation in subsaharan africa. The best ways to prevent environmental degradation. Charcoal production is considered one of the primary causes of forest degradation in zambia and. Zambia has tremendous natural resource wealth but faces increasing threats to its environment, including deforestation and wildlife trafficking, and the effects of climate shocks.
The best ways to prevent environmental degradation our planet is the most important thing in all of our lives, regardless of who we are. Pdf zambia environmental and climate change policy brief. Environmental degradation caused by mining activities. This essay, sexplore the link between environmental policy, management and ethics in postcolonial zimbabwe with a view to show that this link. Recommendations on priorities of lldcs on climate change, desertification, land degradation and drought what has emerged from this study is that there is an imperative need to give lldcs special attention in as far as the issues of climate change, land degradation and desertification are concerned.
Wood extraction, agricultural expansion, infrastructure development and fires are the main drivers of deforestation and forest degradation. They have a wide variety of effects on the environment such as air pollution, noise pollution from road traffic as well as water and land pollution. A connection is drawn between the initiation and maintenance of distinct farming systems commercial, emergent and subsistence by largely human influences, and the effect these farming systems have in turn on the environment. She noted that zambias forests were regenerating at a slower pace due to droughts and high temperature, but at the same time being threatened by bush fires and environmental degradation. Zambia is also highly endowed with abundant water resources from rivers, lakes and wetlands. The governmental framework that regulates the mining sectors environmental compliance is centered on zambia environmental management agency zema. With a fast growing population the drive to meet goals set out in national development strategies and in international conventions, most recently defined in the millennium development. The agency, formerly environmental council of zambia was established in 1992 and was. Zambia country profile center for international forestry.
Wikipedia when the environment becomes less valuable or damaged, environmental degradation is said to occur. It is the basis for local decision making in agriculture, health, food education and environmental management warren, 1991. Fire management assessment of eastern province, zambia. Examinations of biannual reports submitted by mines to the zambia environmental management agency zema, correspondence files between zema and the. Poverty reduction can, therefore, be viewed as a strategy for sustainable environmental management. Your committee has the honour to present its report on the auditor generals report on environmental. It covers local, traditional, nonwestern beliefs, practices, and. Preventing environmental degradation is a journey that we should all take part in. During the course of its deliberations, your committee studied the report of the auditor general. Nagdeve abstract the present paper examined the relationship of population to the environment and with growing population, poverty and urbanization the environment is degrading.
A case study from mkushi district, central province exemplifies the influence of external factors on environmental degradation in general, and soil erosion in. Therefore, environmental degradation can only be understood within the context of the society that the environment supports. These interventions are ultimately aimed at contributing to environmental sustainability in zambia. Specific attention will be paid to environmental damages to land, air and water resources that the communities depend on for their livelihood. The impact of climate change, desertification and land. It does not attempt to cover the full range of social issues associated with all types of environmental degradation. This environmental assessment ea of the copperbelt environment project presents an evaluation of mining hazards in the copperbelt and kabwe from a riskbased perspective.
Population growth and environmental degradation in india by dr. Fostering sustainable development and reducing peoples vulnerability from the risk of climate change, natural and manmade disasters and environmental degradation are key pillars under the framework of undp zambias country programme action plan 2011 2015 and the sixth national development plan vision for the natural resources sector. A gendered perspective on deforestation, climate change. Studies on social impacts of mining in zambia reveal that mining industries have direct impacts on deforestation. Effects of such pollution are evident around or near fertiliser and chemical plants and other water bodies where the vegetation and aquatic life have. Conducted an analysis of changes and trends over last fifty years. Farming and environmental degradation are inextricably linked through a complex of political, social, economic and physical forces. Environmental statistics is vital for monitoring the situation of the environment and natural resources in the country for informed decision. The zambian government adopted a national conservation strategy in 1985 and the national environmental action plan neap in 1994, in an attempt to redress the.
In addition, education programs surrounding effective land management strategies should be a high priority for both government and aid organizations, as the results of this study suggest. Environmental problems can be studied from two different viewpoints. Both poverty and environmental degradation have been increasing in many developing countries, hence there is a pressing need first to evaluate and analyze the poverty environmental degradation nexus, and second, to prescribe policy options to mitigate or eradicate these two problems. Preliminary study on the drivers of deforestation and. Recognizing that uranium is a highly radioactive material and zambia being a member of the international atomic energy agency iaea, it is incumbent upon the zambian government to ensure that. Environmental policy, management and ethics in zimbabwe. Deforestation rates are significant in zambia, with approximately 300,000 ha of forest cover lost per year. Malawis high population density and the dependence of malawians on agricultural production in the absence of other economic opportunities have led to alarming rates of environmental degradation. This process can be entirely natural in origin, or it can be accelerated or caused by human activities. Environmental degradation national assembly of zambia.
Such global awareness helped some african governments to take action towards the control of environmental degradation. Despite these efforts, the degradation of natural resources continues to be a major threat to the social and economic development of malawi. Changing patterns of social integration affect the ways in which natural resources are utilized by society, the value ascribed to nature, and the importance attached to environmental conservation and rehabilitation. Usaid encourages sustainable natural resource management and broadbased, climatesmart, economic development that promotes resilience and curbs the acceleration of greenhouse gas emissions. Many international organizations recognize environmental. Environmental degradation is a process through which the natural environment is compromised in some way, reducing biological diversity and the general health of the environment. Environmental protection and economic development in zambia. In zambia, development programmes are using environmental resources at an increasing rate. This entry lists the most pressing and important environmental problems.
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