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2007 Ground Water Summit |
Wednesday, May 2, 2007 : 3:20 p.m.
Problems and Possible Ways of Achieving Sustainable Management of Ground Water Resources in Subsaharan Africa
Problems and possible ways
of achieving sustainable management of ground water resources in Subsaharan Africa.
Developing countries continue to face water crisis primarily because of poor management schemes and lack of proper education on the sustainable use of the existing ground and surface water resources, to ensure continuous availability of fresh water. This results to ecological, social, economic and political difficulties in most parts of the developing counties(Subsaharan Africa), resulting to continuous poverty of the masses. With population growth in the rise, there is bound to be more pressure on the fresh water resources in Subsaharan Africa. There is massive expansion of irrigated land and crop production in most developing countries to meet up with the food demands of the growing population.
Inorganic sources like nitrate and other nutrient pollution in groundwater is often related to agricultural practices other than the use of chemical fertilizers. Any location where animal wastes are concentrated, such as feed lots or poultry farms, can release high levels of nutrients into groundwater. In addition to nutrients, pesticides and herbicides are other major sources of groundwater pollution related to agriculture. Nitrate runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits, and human sewage. These activities have severe impact on both the quality and quantity of ground water resources in developing countries.
Therefore new approaches to long term water planning and management that incorporate principles of sustainability and equity are of utmost importance.
- Hard information on the extent of groundwater pollution and depletion to the public,
Njah Ekun Ferdinand, Student, Katholiek University Leuven AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT FOR NJAH EKUN FERDINAND My name is Njah Ekun Ferdinand, an English speaking Cameroonian by nationality, born 24th October 1974 in Araru village, Eyumojock sub division, Manyu division, Southwest province of Cameroon. I did primary school education in government primary school Inokun for seven years 1981 to 1988 ad earned first school leaving certificate. I pursued secondary studies in government high school Eyumojock for five years, 1988 to 1993 and earnedG.C.E (general certificate of education) ordinary level certificate. From 1994 to 1996, I did high school in government high school Mamfe, Mamfe town (manyu division and ended up with G.C.E, advanced level. I proceeded into university of Buea-Cameroon, from 1997 to 2000 where I earned B.Sc. in geology with minor in environmental science. thereafter, i took a few training courses on computer software applications, did a few workshops and training on GPS/GIS information systems with ESRI(Limbe Botanic garden) and earned a certificate of participation. in 2004, I pursued a masters in Malardalens University, Vasteras, Sweden and earned a masters with focus on sustainable energy systems in January 2006. Currently taking an Master degree program on Water Resources Engineering in the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium.