Adaptation to climate change in dryland Nigeria

Extensive research shows that Northern part of Nigeria has already experienced noticeable changes in climate and predicts that more changes will occur in the near future. Much of these changes are having and will continue to have negative impact on the environment. Some of these negative impacts are readily recognized: higher temperatures, prolonged drought destroying […]

Extensive research shows that Northern part of Nigeria has already experienced noticeable changes in climate and predicts that more changes will occur in the near future. Much of these changes are having and will continue to have negative impact on the environment. Some of these negative impacts are readily recognized: higher temperatures, prolonged drought destroying farmers’ crops, desertification and flooding. This region is especially subject to climate change leading to reduction of the area suitable for rain-fed agriculture, more extreme weather events, decrease of water availability, and decrease in agricultural productivity among other problems.
The northern region of Nigeria constitutes of large land mass with a substantial part of its area extending into the Sudano-Sahelian belt, which, together with the neighbouring northern Guinea Savanna constitutes part of the dry lands of the country. This write-up attempts to examine the issue of climate change in the northern part of Nigeria and to proffer possible adaptation measures so that, this government of “change” can transform the dry lands part of Nigeria from desert to forest.
The decline in the fertility of land reduces crop production and additional income sources. Land degradation also triggers a cycle of environmental degradation, impoverishment, migration and conflicts, often also putting the political stability of affected countries and regions at risk.
Despite the grave problem of drylands, UNCCD recognizes such regions (among which northern Nigeria plays chief) as areas of great potential for development. They already provide many resources and are home to large number of livestock. Nigeria is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and the country’s fragile economy makes the local ability to respond difficult. Nigeria has a variety of ecosystems, from mangroves and rainforests on the Atlantic coast in the south to the savannah in the north bordering the Sahara. Whether dry or wet, those ecosystems are being battered by global warming. While excessive flooding during the past decade has hurt farming in coastal communities, desertification is ravaging the Sahel. Traditionally, desertification in the Sahel has been blamed on overgrazing practices of the local population. But it has been discovered that the real problem is climate change. Rainfall in the Sahel has been declining steadily since the 1960s and this has resulted in the loss of farmlands and conflicts between farmers and herdsmen over ever decreasing grass land. Many different communities, including fishermen, farmers and herdsmen, are now confronted with difficulties arising from climatic changes. Peoples’ livelihoods are being harmed, and people who are already poor are becoming even more impoverished. Climate refugees are the result, as the changes make some land unlivable and affect water supplies.
So also, change of crop intensity, alteration of timing and location of cropping activities, crop rotation patterns, changes in tillage practices and planting and harvesting times, crop diversification, development and use of drought, disease resistant crops are steps that can be taken in preventing soil and land degradation
Mobile livestock production can be practiced for adaptation to fodder scarcity, livestock diversification, improved management of stocking rates and rotation of pastures, improvement of effectiveness of pest, diseases and weed management practices in order effectively manage livestock production and to reduce incidence of conflict among farmers and herdsmen
Harmonization of environmental and public policies, promoting environmental mainstreaming, promoting good governance, integration of the UNCCD issues into programmes and strategies related to climate change mitigation and adaptation, mainstreaming climate change into development planning at all scales, levels and sectors, investment in research and development, strengthening of the knowledge and understanding of climate and functions of ecosystems in order to elaborate appropriate response measures, enhancing resilience to disasters, improving disaster management, emergency response, promotion of community-based disaster reduction, monitoring, assessment and early warning systems for drought, land degradation and desertification control; adaptation and vulnerability assessment, promotion of seasonal climate forecasting, communication of climate forecasts to stakeholders, in particular to farmers, undertaking preventive measures to reduce occurrences/magnitude of natural catastrophes linked to desertification, development and implementation of a national drought policy, implementation of new (non-farm) income-generating activities, diversification of income sources to reduce dependence on climate-sensitive resources, empowering communities and local stakeholders so that they can actively participate in vulnerability assessment and implementation of adaptation, definition of land-use and tenure rights for investments, promotion of risk-sharing, creation of markets in water and environmental services, promotion and improvement of international trade are all measures that will aid in adapting to the effects of climate change that are ravaging the north-east region of the country
In conclusion, a new paradigm of sustainable land management can support land users to respond to changing market demand with adapted and traditional technologies to generate income, improve livelihoods and protect ecosystems.
Dr. Idris is the Director, Centre for Environmental Studies, Nasarawa State University, Keffi.  [email protected]