income-generating ventures. Besides agriculture, properly reclaimed land can be used for recreational purposes, grazing, wildlife habitats, wetlands, bricks and blocks making, swimming pools, forestry, and aquaculture, just to name a few (Mborah et al. 2016).
3.3 Waste generation and economic opportunities Artisanal mining in Eastern Cameroon
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) defines waste as substance or objects which are disposed of, or are intended to be disposed of, or are required to be disposed of by the provisions of national law (UNEP 1992). The amount of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) that a country generates is directly proportionate to the country's development rate. With a development rate of four per cent per year, Africa is growing rapidly and consequently producing huge amounts of MSW, thus imperilling public health and the environment (Muzenda, Belaid, Mollagee, Motampane and Ntuli 2011)
Sustainable Land Management (SLM) is the use of land resources for the production of goods to meet changing human needs, while simultaneously ensuring the long-term productive potential of these resources and their environmental sustainability (FAO 2015). SLM is a key response to Africa's land resources facing new challenges from myriad uses, including urbanization, mining, deforestation, agricultural expansion, and infrastructure development (UNEP 2016). Regional bodies such as the African Union and its programmes including the African Mining Vision 2009 continue to advocate for sustainable mining while protecting the environment (African Union 2009).
In addition, tourism in wildlife sanctuaries can also be a great economic asset especially when we know that in Africa almost all wildlife reserves are located in arid zones. Such a pathway will have immense benefits for young people. Land reclamation may not only result in improved natural resource management and environmental practices, but could also create direct jobs for youth. However, land access for youth must be addressed if youth are to optimally benefit from land. Land access determines livelihood prospects for youth. Studies have shown that increased land inheritance translates into greater employment opportunities in agriculture (Kosec et al. 2018). This presents a challenge for youth in rural Africa because they typically depend on inheritance and gift, or informal leasing, to access land (Deininger 2003). Inherited or gifted land is however too small to power sustainable livelihoods (Bezu and Holden 2014). It is therefore critical for African governments to enact policies that will expand land access for youth.
Investing in the reclamation of degraded mined lands could help enhance the livelihood potential of youths through the development of
Cameroonian youth organization in action during the 2019 World Clean-up Day in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
31
In recent years, the global market for recyclable products has gone up significantly. The world market for post-consumer scrap metal is estimated at 400 million tons annually and around 175 million tons annually for paper and cardboard (World Bank 2012). This presents economic opportunities that youth can tap into.
Major African cities produce an average of 0.78 kg of waste per capita per day (van Beukering, Sekher, Gerlagh and Kumar 1999; Mkwambisi 2007; Chijioke 2013). In Nairobi, Kenya, for example, waste is collected by both the public sector and private companies that are registered and licensed by the city. These companies provide waste collection and disposal at a fee in specific areas (van Dijk 2008).
Restoring our Land
Marc Anselme Kamga
Marc Anselme Kamga
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100
