Migration in Upper West Region spurred
on by Global warming
Wa, June 10, Ghanadot/GNA- An Assistant Programme Officer of
the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Wa has
identified global warming as one of the causes of labour
migration from the Upper West, Upper East and Northern
Regions to the southern parts of the country.
He said global warming has also contributed immensely to the
high poverty levels of the people and was responsible for
the occurrence of cerebro-spinal meningitis in these regions
during the dry seasons.
Mr Emmanuel Lignule was addressing students of environmental
clubs from various schools in the Wa Municipality to mark
this year's World Environment Day in Wa on Monday.
He Lignule reminded people in the three Northern regions
that their economic activities were the sources of carbon
emission into the atmosphere that was causing global
warming.
He mentioned the slash and burn agriculture, bush burning
and high dependence on fuel wood as some of the negative
environmental practices that the people were involved in and
appealed for a change, to control global warming.
"The deficiencies in rain fall pattern, the inability of
farmers to provide enough food and the experience of
perennial water shortages for domestic and livestock rearing
among others, must be a worry to all" he said.
Mr Lignule said the EPA has been making serious efforts to
encourage communities in the regions to avoid wildfires,
indiscriminate felling of trees and adopt agro forestry
practices.
The EPA was also sensitising people in the communities to
establish woodlots to serve as reliable sources of fuel wood
to help reduce high dependence on the natural vegetation for
fuel.
He said carbon emission into the atmosphere was caused by
human activities and that required collective action at the
international, national, regional and local levels to
control the incidence of global warming.
The Day was on the theme: "Kick the habit-towards a low
carbon economy" with the accompanying local theme: "Plant a
tree-reduce global warming".
The students planted various species of trees in their
schools as part of their contribution towards afforestation.
GNA
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