Enivironmental sustainainabilty by annexing soil resources

Abstract

Soil is a critical frontier of science and it is important to raise awareness among policy makers, land users, researchers and the general public about the poor state of Knowledge on soils and the need to invest in it's study. The aim of this paper are in two folds. First, it highlights the implications for the fields of soil science and the need for geographical knowledge as it gives prominence to detailed knowledge of the local environment within the context of the environment . Secondly, it emphasizes the need to generate the much needed technical data on the soil resources in Nigeria. In this paper, soil is seen as important to all environmental analysis most especially to address global concerns about climate change, water quality, food security, biodiversity laws, land degradation, famine and desertification. In order to boost agricultural production , proven technologies developed for temperate region soils have been imposed on our soils without caution and of course, to the detriment of the soils in Nigeria. Rather than depend on global database based in the advanced countries, developing countries must develop their own resource databases and information system in order to meet the local and regional needs. Resuscitation and revitalization of the institutions responsible for the management of soil , and soil resources , after elements of the natural resource base is also recommended.