Volume 9, Issue 2
April - June 2020
CONTENT
Chair's Foreword
The Role of the Earth Sciences in African Sustainable Development
Earth Science Events
References and selected reading
Chair's Foreword*
We appreciate the role the earth sciences play in sustainable development in Africa. The earth sciences are suited for this purpose since they cover all of the areas of basic human need: water, food, energy, etc. Furthermore, the consideration of geoparks and geotourism, shows they can potentially also contribute to elevated quality of life as well as ensuing economic benefits of exploiting the local geoheritage through sustainable tourism.
The Role of the Earth Sciences in African Sustainable Development |
| From The Independent magazine, Feb. 2017 |
Sustainable African economic and technological development can accelerate if there is a judicious application of the earth sciences, since they apply to the areas that address the most basic human needs: such as clean water and sanitation, food production, soil quality, fertility as well as soil and water conservation, and also energy production, particularly the harnessing of renewable energy.
Researchers Gill et al[1], identified sustainable development priorities in terms of the application of the earth and environmental sciences in Eastern Africa guided by the programme to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) of 2015. In relation to the earth sciences we note as particularly relevant, for example, the goals: SDG7 in reference to renewable energy, SDG6 in reference to water and sanitation and SDG2 in reference to food production and achieving zero hunger. The study of Gill et al identified the SDGs 6 (water and sanitation), 4 (education) , and 2 ( zero hunger) as priorities.
Nowhere, perhaps, is the application of the earth sciences seen to be so key to accelerating development as in realising the sustainable village model. Sustainable Villages were seen as a way to accelerate African development by focussing on alleviating poverty of the rural poor that form the majority population. This was to be achieved by replicating a template or blueprint of a model village containing all the amenities/necessities for comfortable living. Having this template means it can be reproduced economically across the continent. Realising each sustainable village entails organising farming and land management (including managing forestry, soil health and fertility, soil and water conservation, etc), renewable energy as well as dwellings construction and water and sanitation.
Over the years there have been a surprising number of pilot projects promoting the sustainable village idea all over the African continent including in Liberia [2], Senegal where 45 villages were trialled [3], 78 villages established in 10 countries under the Columbia University African Millenium Villages experiment [4], and in Rwanda where a partnership of UNEP and UNDP resulted in Rwanda's first Green Eco-village [5].
The sustainable village models discussed here bear little relation to the "Wakanda One Village" model espoused by former AU ambassador Arikana Chihombori-Quao both in scale and perhaps even in philosophy. In contrast each Wakanda model is a centre of excellence more resembling an small urban city or town than a rural village; and will require billions of dollars in investment encouraged from the African Diaspora [6]. Such complexes will contain schools, a teaching hospital, hotels and a high tech transport hub, such as will enable the use of electric vehicles. It is not clear whether this will benefit the local population, or be an attraction for foreign African diaspora visitors with the financial means to enjoy such facilities. Perhaps the only common resemblance is the fact that each Wakanda Village will create a template that can be recast in different locations throughout the continent in order to accelerate continental development
In contrast to this, the sustainable village idea, will require more modest resources, with a sustainable village perhaps costing as little to build as $600 thousand (US dollars); but having basic necessities. The Millenium Village project at Columbia University was intended to serve villages or conglomerations of villages housing about 5,000 people[7]. Such facilities would be for local people and would be intended to alleviate poverty for the majority of inhabitants that live in a rural setting without access to on grid electricity and water services. Like the Wakanda model, a template would be sought that can be cheaply and effectively replicated in different African countries.
The sustainable village model lends itself for consideration in the light of other development initiatives such as geoparks that can be combined with the planning of sustainable villages to increase opportunities for local people to raise revenue (for instance through geo-tourism by the creation of local geoparks - local geological sites of public interest) [8]. Ngwira in his study of geoparks and geotourism identifies them as sustainable tourism development opportunities that are woefully under-exploited in Africa. He found that despite many parts of Africa possessing extraordinary geological sites of public interest, the continent is lagging behind in exploiting the potential opportunities they offer. He acknowledged there are challenges in developing this potential which include: limited empirical research data in various countries; lack of policy guidelines; lack of strong NGOs who can push geo-conservation initiatives; lack of motivation by public and private sectors to exploit this opportunity and indeed a lack of vision and innovation in the private sector to realise such opportunities. Further investigation and research in the subject area is recommended and geoparks managers and land managers are urged to try and stimulate local interest in geoparks and geotourism for the chances of substantial local economic prosperity that they might avail.
Earth Science Events
Researchers Gill et al[1], identified sustainable development priorities in terms of the application of the earth and environmental sciences in Eastern Africa guided by the programme to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) of 2015. In relation to the earth sciences we note as particularly relevant, for example, the goals: SDG7 in reference to renewable energy, SDG6 in reference to water and sanitation and SDG2 in reference to food production and achieving zero hunger. The study of Gill et al identified the SDGs 6 (water and sanitation), 4 (education) , and 2 ( zero hunger) as priorities.
Nowhere, perhaps, is the application of the earth sciences seen to be so key to accelerating development as in realising the sustainable village model. Sustainable Villages were seen as a way to accelerate African development by focussing on alleviating poverty of the rural poor that form the majority population. This was to be achieved by replicating a template or blueprint of a model village containing all the amenities/necessities for comfortable living. Having this template means it can be reproduced economically across the continent. Realising each sustainable village entails organising farming and land management (including managing forestry, soil health and fertility, soil and water conservation, etc), renewable energy as well as dwellings construction and water and sanitation.
Over the years there have been a surprising number of pilot projects promoting the sustainable village idea all over the African continent including in Liberia [2], Senegal where 45 villages were trialled [3], 78 villages established in 10 countries under the Columbia University African Millenium Villages experiment [4], and in Rwanda where a partnership of UNEP and UNDP resulted in Rwanda's first Green Eco-village [5].
The sustainable village models discussed here bear little relation to the "Wakanda One Village" model espoused by former AU ambassador Arikana Chihombori-Quao both in scale and perhaps even in philosophy. In contrast each Wakanda model is a centre of excellence more resembling an small urban city or town than a rural village; and will require billions of dollars in investment encouraged from the African Diaspora [6]. Such complexes will contain schools, a teaching hospital, hotels and a high tech transport hub, such as will enable the use of electric vehicles. It is not clear whether this will benefit the local population, or be an attraction for foreign African diaspora visitors with the financial means to enjoy such facilities. Perhaps the only common resemblance is the fact that each Wakanda Village will create a template that can be recast in different locations throughout the continent in order to accelerate continental development
In contrast to this, the sustainable village idea, will require more modest resources, with a sustainable village perhaps costing as little to build as $600 thousand (US dollars); but having basic necessities. The Millenium Village project at Columbia University was intended to serve villages or conglomerations of villages housing about 5,000 people[7]. Such facilities would be for local people and would be intended to alleviate poverty for the majority of inhabitants that live in a rural setting without access to on grid electricity and water services. Like the Wakanda model, a template would be sought that can be cheaply and effectively replicated in different African countries.
The sustainable village model lends itself for consideration in the light of other development initiatives such as geoparks that can be combined with the planning of sustainable villages to increase opportunities for local people to raise revenue (for instance through geo-tourism by the creation of local geoparks - local geological sites of public interest) [8]. Ngwira in his study of geoparks and geotourism identifies them as sustainable tourism development opportunities that are woefully under-exploited in Africa. He found that despite many parts of Africa possessing extraordinary geological sites of public interest, the continent is lagging behind in exploiting the potential opportunities they offer. He acknowledged there are challenges in developing this potential which include: limited empirical research data in various countries; lack of policy guidelines; lack of strong NGOs who can push geo-conservation initiatives; lack of motivation by public and private sectors to exploit this opportunity and indeed a lack of vision and innovation in the private sector to realise such opportunities. Further investigation and research in the subject area is recommended and geoparks managers and land managers are urged to try and stimulate local interest in geoparks and geotourism for the chances of substantial local economic prosperity that they might avail.
Earth Science Events
November 5-6, 2020
International Conference on Earth Sciences and Climate Change
VISION: Various aspects of earth sciences and climate change including, biodiversity, bio-degradation, conservation, deforestation, impact on human health health among many other issues.
VENUE: Marrakesh, Morocco.
References and selected reading
1] Gill, J.C., et al, The role of Earth and environmental science in addressing sustainable development priorities. Environmental Development, Vol. 30, June 2019, pages 3-20.
2] https://www.ecosa.org/model-sustainable-village/
3] https://ecovillage.org/our-work/consultancy/pan-african-village-development/
4] Sanchez, P., Palm, C., Sachs, J., et al, The African Millenium Villages, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, October 23, 2001, 104(43), 16775-16780.
5] South-South World, Sustainable Development Revolution through Rwanda's Green Villages, 30th May 2018.
6] https://africa.com/zambia-and-zimbabwe-offer-land-to-african-union-for-first-sadc-multi-billion-dollar-wakanda-one-village-project/
7]Cabral, L., Farrington, J., and E. Ludi. (2006). The Millenium Villages Project - a new approach to ending poverty in Africa?, Natural Resource Perspectives, pages 101-105.
8] Ngwira, P. (2015). Geotourism and Geoparks: Africa;s Current Prospects for Sustainable Rural Development and Poverty Alleviation. 10.1007/978-3-319-10708-0_2.
*Board of the Society of African Earth Scientists: Dr Enas Ahmed (Egypt), Osmin Callis (Secretary - Guyana/Nigeria), Mathada Humphrey (South Africa), Ndivhuwo Cecilia Mukosi (South Africa), Damola Nadi (Nigeria), Dr Chukwunyere Kamalu (Chair - Nigeria).
2] https://www.ecosa.org/model-sustainable-village/
3] https://ecovillage.org/our-work/consultancy/pan-african-village-development/
4] Sanchez, P., Palm, C., Sachs, J., et al, The African Millenium Villages, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, October 23, 2001, 104(43), 16775-16780.
5] South-South World, Sustainable Development Revolution through Rwanda's Green Villages, 30th May 2018.
6] https://africa.com/zambia-and-zimbabwe-offer-land-to-african-union-for-first-sadc-multi-billion-dollar-wakanda-one-village-project/
7]Cabral, L., Farrington, J., and E. Ludi. (2006). The Millenium Villages Project - a new approach to ending poverty in Africa?, Natural Resource Perspectives, pages 101-105.
8] Ngwira, P. (2015). Geotourism and Geoparks: Africa;s Current Prospects for Sustainable Rural Development and Poverty Alleviation. 10.1007/978-3-319-10708-0_2.
*Board of the Society of African Earth Scientists: Dr Enas Ahmed (Egypt), Osmin Callis (Secretary - Guyana/Nigeria), Mathada Humphrey (South Africa), Ndivhuwo Cecilia Mukosi (South Africa), Damola Nadi (Nigeria), Dr Chukwunyere Kamalu (Chair - Nigeria).
