Monrovia – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Liberia in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) over the weekend conducted a training workshop for farmers and other stakeholders on the effects of harmful agricultural practices and sustainable use and management of water, land and forest resources.
The workshop conducted by the Energy and Environment Units of the EPA and UNDP provided education on Climate change adaptation and sustainable agriculture: Farmers behavior and best practices as well as Climate Smart Agriculture: Theory and Practice for Agriculture Sector Development which is part of the unit core activity for 2018.
The Energy and Environment Units of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are charged with the responsibilities to supervise all energy and environment projects.
The training was intended to raise awareness for behavioral changes in the use of water, land, forest resources and farming practices to ensure sustainability and reduce effects of climate change on women and children.
The training also attracted representatives from line government ministries and agencies, was part of EPA and UNDP Energy and Environment projects, which focus on reduction in vulnerability and improve adaptation to climate change through early warning systems and the enhancement of environmental management, as a basis for sustainable economic development.
“The training workshop emphasizes mainstreaming climate change into development processes to ensure broader participation, as well as focuses on gender mainstreaming into climate sustainable development with importance placed on the role and place of women and children who are directly affected by the impacts of climate change,” Salimatu Lamin-Gilayaneh, EPA/ UNDP Energy and Environment Program Coordinator said.
Madam Lamin-Gilayeneh claimed that the program is necessary because Liberia is vulnerable to several impacts of climate change, especially those caused by human activities.
She disclosed that there is little knowledge among the population, specifically rural dwellers on the impacts of their behavior in the use of water, land, forest resources and noted that their actions could cause catastrophic impacts in terms of destroying livelihoods and lives; in key areas of fishing and farming.