Curbing Land Degradation through Sustainable Landscaping and Building Resilient Cities

Abstract

The Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the United Nation particularly sustainable cities and communities development (goal eleven) and life on land (goal fifteen) targeted for year 2030 and Nigeria’s Vision 20:2020 (NV 20:2020) Economic Transformation Blueprint cannot be overemphasized. Land degradation will remain an important global issue for the 21st century because of its adverse impact on agronomic productivity, the environment, and its effect on food security and the quality of life. Land degradation is induced by human and natural activities. This paper focuses on the human induced land degradation as they can be prevented. This includes mining activities, erosion, bush burning, and loss of agricultural land among others. The productivity of some lands has declined by 50% due to soil erosion and desertification. Landscaping as an emerging field seeks to enhance and curb land degradation to certain aspects within cities and Nigeria in general. It focuses on Jos, the capital of Plateau State situated in the North-Central geopolitical zone of Nigeria. The methodology employed for this study is physical site survey, case study and review of related literature. The paper submits by way of conclusion that implementing sustainable landscaping measures i.e. soft landscaping and hard landscaping in curbing land degradation will help create more resilient cities that can survive and thrive amidst these environmental challenges and working closely with slum dwellers, allied professionals, and the government to ensure a sustainable development is achieved.