By Ramatu Garba
The Centre for Dryland Agriculture (CDA), Bayero University Kano has concluded plans to host the fifth International conference on drylands from May 6th to May 8 in Kano.
The Director CDA, Prof Jibrin Mohammed-Jibrin, made the disclosure while briefing newsmen in Kano, on Monday.
The conference has the theme: “Promoting Sustainability and Resilience of Rangelands: Present and Future Outlooks.”
He said the conference will serve as a continental platform for dialogue, learning, and collaboration on sustainable management of rangelands vast ecosystems that support millions of livelihoods across Africa and other dryland regions of the world.
“The conference will bring together leading voices from academia, government, civil society, development partners, the private sector, and pastoralist communities.
“It aims to explore innovative solutions for building resilient, productive, and sustainable rangeland systems in the face of climate change, land degradation, conflict, and socio-economic transformation.” he said
Mohammed-Jibrin said the conference responds to the urgent need to reimagine the governance, utilisation and restoration of rangelands.
“Rangelands cover over 40 per cent of the Earth’s terrestrial surface and are home to more than 500 million people, many of whom depend on livestock rearing and mixed farming systems.
“In sub- Saharan Africa, particularly the Sahel and dry savannah regions, rangelands provide essential ecosystem services such as forage, water regulation, biodiversity conservation, and carbon sequestration.
“However, these landscapes are increasingly threatened by climate variability, unsustainable land-use practices, desertification, and violent conflicts linked to natural resource competition,” Mohammed-Jibrin said.
He said the conference is designed to share state-of-the-art scientific evidence and practical experiences on rangeland health, management, productivity and to identify strategies for building climate resilience, food and livelihood security, and peace in dryland communities, among other goals.
“This year’s event will feature keynote addresses by globally renowned experts in dryland science, policy, and practice, as well as paper presentations on climate-smart livestock production, rangeland degradation and restoration, land tenure, and conflict management.
“A high level panel will also discuss “Reimagining Nigeria’s rangelands for resilience and food security among other issues.
“The event is not only about science, but also about people, their land, and their future,” he added.
The Director said that at the end of the event, contributions will be made to continental and global platforms including the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and the African Union Agenda 2063″.
“The CDA is a World Bank and AFD-supported Africa Centre of Excellence. The Centre has provided leadership in dryland research, capacity development, and policy engagement across West and Central Africa.
“Through its biennial international conferences, the CDA convenes multi-stakeholder platforms to address the challenges and opportunities facing dryland regions globally,” Mohammed-Jibrin said.
