LINKAGES BETWEEN WOMEN, LIVELIHOODS & ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY

Transcription

1 Nigeria in Focus LINKAGES BETWEEN WOMEN, LIVELIHOODS & ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY Panel Discussion by George Akor Program Manager, Women Environmental Programme (WEP), Nigeria

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3 Key Messages Progress in human development is threatened by environmental and inequality trends Climate change has indirect consequences for the MDG targets on gender equality and women's empowerment. Climate change impacts such as water scarcity and falling agricultural productivity may disproportionately affect women and girls Nigeria MDGs Report (2011)

4 Messages [cont.] Gender inequalities are associated with greater environmental degradation Environmental crisis engender conditions which render conflict and insecurity all the more likely. They can serve to determine the source of conflict, shape the nature of conflict and act as multipliers that aggravate the core causes of conflict.

5 MDGs Country Acknowledgement Nigeria is among those with the highest levels of inequality in the world. This inequality reflects widening gaps in income and gender access to economic and social opportunities; growing inequality between and within rural and urban populations; and widening gaps between economies in different parts of the federation (MDGs Report 2010)

6 Inequality Trends Many studies have shown that Nigeria ranks among the most unequal countries in the world. The poverty problem is partly a feature of high inequality which manifests in unequal income distribution and differential access to basic infrastructure, education, training and job opportunities. Sustained high overall inequality reflects widening income gap and access to economic and social opportunities between genders; growing inequality within rural and urban populations. Inequality between the genders stands out as a key policy challenge. The female gender is generally disadvantaged in access to education and employment, agricultural wage and access to land, among other things.

7 The Land and Its People Nigeria is a vast country with over 70% of its population dwelling in the rural areas and their occupation is directly connected to the land. More than 65% of population is engaged in agriculture. Cash crops (mainly cocoa and rubber) and tubers dominate agriculture in the Rain Forest zone; Much of the root and tuber crops are from the Guinea Savannah zone. The upper guinea and lower Sudan Savannah ecology produces much of the cereal (mainly millet and guinea corn). The upper Sahel ecology used to be the main zone of animal grazing.

8 The Land, its people [cont.] The agricultural GDP is contributed by Crops (85%), Livestock (10%), Fisheries (4%) and Forestry (1%). It is estimated that about 75% (68 million ha) of the total land area has potential for agricultural activities with about 33 million ha under cultivation. Similarly, of the estimated 3.14 million ha irrigable land area, only about 220,000 ha (7%) is utilised. Nigeria has diverse and rich vegetation; high % of surface and underground water. The country is also blessed with reasonably abundant rainfall as well as an extensive coastal region that is very rich in fish and other marine products.

9 The Land, its people [cont.] Women make up some 60-80% of agricultural labour force in Nigeria (UNDP 2003). They play a pivotal role in the sector in general. Women constitute the bulk activities in farm and farm products. In the labour force they play key roles in maintaining and strategically using available land and natural resources made available to them.

10 Beauty & the Beast Environmental Challenges Population pressure and the continuous exploitation of marginal lands, aggravating the process of drought and desertification in the north Severe gully erosion in eastern and northern states Coastal and marine erosion, and land subsidence in coastal and riverine states Flooding in low-lying belt of mangrove and fresh swamps along the coast, and in parts of the north Uncontrolled logging with inherent problems of the destruction of biodiversity

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12 Environmental Challenges [cont.] Inappropriate agricultural practices and the destruction of vast agricultural lands Creation of burrow pits associated with bad mining practices and construction works Illegal mining: Gold Mining in Zamfara State and lead poisoning (on women and children) Oil pollution from spillage and gas flaring from oil and gas exploration Urban decay and squatter settlements Industrial pollution and municipal waste generation

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16 Climate Change Scenarios Nigeria is likely to be one of the most negatively impacted countries in the world as a result of climate change. Its risks are particularly high due to its low lying coastline that is highly populated with a heavy concentration of GDP generating industry and infrastructure. In addition, the north of the country forms part of the Sahel which is at risk of further desertification and droughts.

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18 CC Scenarios [cont.] The depletion of natural resources continues in many parts of the country. Water, land and biodiversity are under pressure almost everywhere. Example is the depletion of fish stocks, forest cover, rivers and water bodies, and land.

19 In recent years, there has been a massive decline in agricultural productivity, reduction in suitable land for crop production, increased prevalence of pests and livestock diseases, and general loss of livelihoods for the large population that directly depend on agriculture. The destruction of crops, animals and fish stocks is thus leaving farmers in conditions of food and livelihood insecurity. Most of the vulnerable farmers are living in abject poverty and are often forced to look for alternative jobs in order to survive.

20 The Lake Chad as Example The main economic activities in the Lake Chad Basin include fishing, agriculture, hunting and pastoralism. Fishing is a major occupation around the lake and other countries that depend heavily on supplies from the lake. Over 150,000 fishermen live on the lake s shores and its islands. However, as a result of environmental changes since the 1970s, there have been considerable changes and a marked decrease in the lake s fish stocks. As a unique trans-boundary watercourse situated at the edge of the Sahara Desert, Lake Chad provides a lifeline to millions of people living in the area. It is used for sanitation, drinking, agriculture and fishing. Given its relevance to local livelihood and economic progress, further shrinkage of the lake resulting from climate change will undermine the very base of human development in the basin, including the north-eastern region.

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22 Direct Gender Impacts Women suffer grave consequences arising from environmental degradation than their male counterparts, ranging from unfriendly ecosystem, destruction of farmlands and fishing ponds, and contamination of well water for drinking to armed conflicts within the regions of Nigeria.

23 Gender Impacts [cont.] Crop failure/declining agro-yield: increased work (time) required for less food/income Fuel shortage (firewood) due to scarcity: burden of time and cost on women Water shortage: exposure to disease/health challenges Falling livelihoods: school drop-outs, early marriage, falling life-prospects Women over-represented in subsistence agriculture and informal sector, thus more vulnerable to illness and the impacts of a declining environment and environmental conflict

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25 In the Niger Delta Oil companies and their local partners have damaged the environment, deepened resource scarcities

26 The Niger Delta [cont.] Women in the Niger Delta have suffered with adverse effects of environmental degradation, and they are forced to bear much of the burden. For instance, these women search for firewood in an ecologically degraded environment. They search for potable water in a situation where pollution has rendered communal ponds and stream water undrinkable. The risk of ill health is also borne disproportionately by women, especially when there is an outbreak of an epidemic due to environmental pollution.

27 Quo Vadis - Which Way Forward? Proactive Steps in Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation (Gender consideration in plans) Multi stakeholder involvement Gender Mainstreaming on Environmental Concerns. There is no data on impact and vulnerability of CC on gender in Nigeria. There is need to assess Gender Sensitive Initiatives on CC skills for sustainable livelihoods Promoting synergy on women participation in environmental issues (disaster risk reduction etc.) Implementation of capacity building for effective adaptive responses by women

28 Quo Vadis Proactive Environmental Protection strategies that will ensure the role and contribution of women, protect them from having to bear unforeseen and unacknowledged costs arising from environmental degradation Promotion of environmentally friendly agricultural practices (CSA) Promotion of sustainable deforestation and reforestation programs Sensitization efforts targeted at promoting environmental awareness Proactive response on oil spill/ environmental degradation in the Niger Delta

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