21 Proposed Research, Science, Technology and Innovation …
501
Africa’s industrialization takes advantage of its abundant and diverse resources,
and hence primary industrial activity in agriculture and the extractive sectors dominate economic activities in the region. These activities are likely to cause localized environmental damage such as pollution of water bodies and land degradation
(UNEP 2016). Besides its effect on land, extraction activities, like mining, also result
in considerable waste management challenges and water pollution, for example,
drainage from acid mining challenges in South Africa (CSIR 2009). Reclaiming
mine wasted lands for productive and sustainable activity and acid mine drainage in
a cost-effective manner presents challenges that require serious attention in Africa’s
mining areas. African governments must devise management strategies that ensure
that agreements to extract natural resources adequately fund restoration and compensation for environmental damage. This ensures that the short-term benefits from
extractive industries are not outweighed by long-term penalties on future generations. African think tanks must devise resource management strategies to guarantee
that the wealth generated from the extractive sector is used to protect the environment, reclaim already polluted lands, tackle water scarcity challenges, improve
adaptation to climate change, integrate the extractive sector with improved environmental conservation and agriculture production, raise the standard of living in rural
areas, and increase the number of people with productive livelihoods in affected
communities.
3.1 Conjunctive Management of Fresh, Salty and Wastewater
for Irrigation and Artificial Recharge of Aquifers
Conventional desalination plants may seem to be an attractive option to supply water
to urban areas and large settlements in arid coastal zones, but Akinaga et al. (2018)
suggested that more comprehensive desalination, which is coupled with agricultural
and salt production may be more sustainable by improving food security, increasing
economic activity, and reducing pollution of land for inland desalination plants.
Chauhan et al. (2016) stated that this approach mitigates the potentially negative
impact on the marine environment from brine discharges. Seawater greenhouses
that are used to produce high-value food crops at commercial scales in hot and dry
coastal regions exist, but disposal of brines from the greenhouses is considered one
of the major challenges associated with all desalination plants today (Akinaga et al.
2018). Also, seawater greenhouse technology may require significant modification
to be suitable for year-round use in cold and dry coastal regions of northern and
southern Africa, which have Mediterranean climates. Akinaga et al. (2018) indicated
that designs have been optimized for smallholder farmers, even suitable for a small
family-run farm. Scaling up the technology will require state backing, political will,
and affordable funding systems. Use of locally available or manufactured materials
may reduce capital costs and could ensure sustainability and lower production costs,
and hence they may be applicable to low-value crops. To advance this potential,
501
Africa’s industrialization takes advantage of its abundant and diverse resources,
and hence primary industrial activity in agriculture and the extractive sectors dominate economic activities in the region. These activities are likely to cause localized environmental damage such as pollution of water bodies and land degradation
(UNEP 2016). Besides its effect on land, extraction activities, like mining, also result
in considerable waste management challenges and water pollution, for example,
drainage from acid mining challenges in South Africa (CSIR 2009). Reclaiming
mine wasted lands for productive and sustainable activity and acid mine drainage in
a cost-effective manner presents challenges that require serious attention in Africa’s
mining areas. African governments must devise management strategies that ensure
that agreements to extract natural resources adequately fund restoration and compensation for environmental damage. This ensures that the short-term benefits from
extractive industries are not outweighed by long-term penalties on future generations. African think tanks must devise resource management strategies to guarantee
that the wealth generated from the extractive sector is used to protect the environment, reclaim already polluted lands, tackle water scarcity challenges, improve
adaptation to climate change, integrate the extractive sector with improved environmental conservation and agriculture production, raise the standard of living in rural
areas, and increase the number of people with productive livelihoods in affected
communities.
3.1 Conjunctive Management of Fresh, Salty and Wastewater
for Irrigation and Artificial Recharge of Aquifers
Conventional desalination plants may seem to be an attractive option to supply water
to urban areas and large settlements in arid coastal zones, but Akinaga et al. (2018)
suggested that more comprehensive desalination, which is coupled with agricultural
and salt production may be more sustainable by improving food security, increasing
economic activity, and reducing pollution of land for inland desalination plants.
Chauhan et al. (2016) stated that this approach mitigates the potentially negative
impact on the marine environment from brine discharges. Seawater greenhouses
that are used to produce high-value food crops at commercial scales in hot and dry
coastal regions exist, but disposal of brines from the greenhouses is considered one
of the major challenges associated with all desalination plants today (Akinaga et al.
2018). Also, seawater greenhouse technology may require significant modification
to be suitable for year-round use in cold and dry coastal regions of northern and
southern Africa, which have Mediterranean climates. Akinaga et al. (2018) indicated
that designs have been optimized for smallholder farmers, even suitable for a small
family-run farm. Scaling up the technology will require state backing, political will,
and affordable funding systems. Use of locally available or manufactured materials
may reduce capital costs and could ensure sustainability and lower production costs,
and hence they may be applicable to low-value crops. To advance this potential,