Landscape architects combating ecosystem degradation
CEESP News byÌýTobiloba Akibo, Tunji Adejumo, Kharbal James Kaltho (CEESP-member)Ìý& Ibrahim Bala GirkuÌý*
The Society of Landscape Architects in Nigeria (SLAN) launced a lecture seriesÌýwith the theme “UN Decade of Ecological Restoration,†discussing ways landscape architects can and are combating ecosystem degradation, reviewing best practices, lessons learned and tools used.
Photo: Kharbal J. kaltho
The lecture: an introduction to what the UN ecological restoration goals are and how Landscape Architects can provide solutions in different capacities from Urban Landscape restoration to Urban open spaces, Forest Landscape restoration, Food security, Agricultural land restoration, River restoration, Wetlands stabilization, Flood risk management etc. The United Nations decade on ecosystem restorations (2021-2030) challenges everyone to massively scale up restoration efforts that breathe new life into our degraded ecosystems, which in turn helps connects us and give us a chance at a healthier life. Dr Adejumo stressed the importance of Landscape Architects streamlining their careers to take up the task to address the ecological degradation.
Photo: Dr Tunji Adejumo
Photo: Kharbal J. kaltho
The (SLAN) - in collaboration with (IFLA Africa)Ìý- recently launched a series of lectures geared towards addressing the decade of UN ecological restoration and the prospects for Nigerian landscape architects. The seriesÌýfocusesÌýon discussing ways landscape architects can and are combating ecosystem degradation, reviewing best practices, lessons learned, and tools used.
The first lecture, facilitated by Dr Tunji Adejumo, was an introduction to what the UN ecological restoration goals are and how landscape architects can provide solutions in different capacities, from urban landscape restoration to urban open spaces, forest landscape restoration, food security, agricultural land restoration, river restoration, wetlands stabilization, flood risk management, etc.Ìý
During the 2nd lecture, Kharbal James KalthoÌýtalked about Nature-based Solutions and their applications in watershed management, highlightingÌýthe different ways landscape conservation best management practices can be applied in agricultural watersheds to improve water quality, reduce siltation from agricultural land-use practices, mitigate flooding, stream banked erosion, promote denitrification and improve soil organic matter.ÌýHis talk highlighted the role agricultural plays in the global climate change discussions, owing to its huge contribution of greenhouse gases through land use change and the unsustainable use of nitrogen based fertilizers, mainly nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) as opposed to building natural soil organic matter
Many innovative ways were highlighted on how we can prevent, halt and reverse ecosystem degradation in regional agricultural landscapes. The lecture ended with a call to challenge landscape architects to focus on regional landscape issues for the protection and revival of our ecosystems.
As part of SLAN's goal of public enlightenment on environmental stewardship,Ìýand the drive to systematically address social challenges, the lecture series was made public with good attendance and with the recordings published on the SLAN YouTube page and other social media platforms.Ìý
| Link to the first lecture facilitated by Dr Tunji Adejumo | Link to the second lecture facilitated by Kharbal Kaltho |
| Ìý | Ìý |
*ÌýÌýTobiloba Akibo1, Tunji Adejumo2, Kharbal James KalthoÌý(CEESP-member)3 & Ibrahim Bala Girku4
Kharbal James Kaltho, International Federation of Landscape Architect (IFLA) Africa Chair on Communications and External relations (CER) and a member of Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûÏÖ³¡Ö±²¥ CEESP
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