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CIPSEM - Centre for International Postgraduate Studies in
Environmental Management
30th INTERNATIONAL POSTGRADUATE COURSE ON
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT FOR DEVELOPING AND EMERGING COUNTRIES
FINAL PAPER
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TITLE:
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SILTING OF TOGO INSHORE SEDIMENTARY BASIN RIVERS AND
PROTECTION MEASURES: CASE OF ZIO RIVER
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AUTHOR:
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Mr. AKINTOLA S. NELSON AKIBODE
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COUNTRY:
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TOGO
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SUPERVISOR:
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Prof. K. H FEGER
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DATE:
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JULY 2007
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ABSTRACT
The main courses water of Togo inshore sedimentary basin are
in silting up and drying. This situation of environmental degradation which
worry or concern for since long time the Ministry of Environment and Forestry
Resources. Despite protection measures used today, rivers degradation is not
stopping.
In this executive training entitled «30th UNEP/UNESCO/BMU
International Postgraduate Course on Environmental Management for Developing
and Emerging Countries» which take place in Dresden (Germany) of the 15
January to 15 July 2007, to improve ours knowledge and experiences in matter of
basin and river protection against erosion, Zio river affected too by the
silting up phenomenon does be the subject of the present study in final paper
as topic: «Silting of Togo inshore sedimentary basin rivers and
protection measures: case of Zio river».
Zio river, length of 178 km, takes his source in the Mounts of
Togo, drains two main geology surfaces, gneiss granite upstream and down-stream
inshore sedimentary basin where it is makes meanders before throwing in the
«Lac-Togo» that communicates with Atlantic Ocean by a pass in
Aného. In the inshore sedimentary basin, the river spreads on 80 km and
his valley covered roughly 400 000 ha. Under the subequatorial climate
characterized by weakness and irregularity rain, the course water after
mountain forest crossing savanna vegetation on ferralitic soils.
Developing vast area of lumbering and agricultural in the
past, Zio basin provides to the riverside residents and urban populations
important natural resources notably earths, wood, fish, pastoral, hunt,
medicinal plants, sediments, and water that constitutes for the first the basis
of subsistence and wealth and for the second a supplies source within research
of hands in woods energy and derivative.
Currently, facing a riverside resident pressure (population
increasing), study area knows a serious deterioration problem of these natural
resources and his environment. River basin degradation is expressed by the drop
of yield agriculture income activities. In fact, silting up or embankment found
his origin in the fore stry destroying and the soils erosion which bring in
river bed the sand and other charges.
Present study gets out the basin environmental degradation
assessment and proposes the standard models to protect and restore the river
banks against the silting up or erosion. It is recommended about conducting a
participating and lasting forest reforestation of the basin, the agro forestry
promote, bush fires managing, biodiversity protect, river users awareness, and
practicing the anti-erosive measures. New technical measures of environmental
protection implemented will be braking or reducing erosion speed in the basin
and improving as well the riverside resident's life conditions.
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