2006: THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF DESERTS AND DESERTIFICATION

The world begins the New Year 2006 with many challenging problems on our environment and livelihood. Famine is hitting hard some parts of Kenya, Ethiopia,Somalia, and Djibouti, just to mention a few. Unreliable and erratic rainfall is claimed to be responsible. However, we have not been able to identify a part we play in our own suffering. Desertifications through forests clearance for any reason and irresponsible burning of vegetations, unfriendly gases from burning and industrial emissions are some within our own control. Until we realize and of course implement the strategies to break the vicious cycle of poverty related to environmental destruction, stories of hunger, drought, floods etc will remain parts and parcels of our life. The United Nations Organization has taken its measures by declaring 2006 the International Year of Deserts and Desertification. The decision was taken to help prevent the exacerbation of desertification around the globe. The main objective of the year is to get the message across that desertification is a major threat to humanity, compounded by both climate change and loss of biological diversity. Down to the country level, Tanzanian President Mr. Jakaya Kikwete puts environmental rehabilitation among his 10 priorities. He went a step further to appoint a full Cabinet Minister responsible for the environments, Prof. Mark Mwandosya.