Accra, June 18, GNA- About a third of Ghana's total land area is under threat of land degradation and it impacting negatively on the well-being of the people in the affected areas. Mr. Kwadwo Adjei-Darko, Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment, who made the disclosure in Parliament on Wednesday, therefore urged Ghanaians to manage dry and marginal lands, and use them as potential areas for agricultural production on sustainable basis.

In a statement to mark two days in June celebrating -World Environment Day and World Day to Combat to Desertification and Drought, the Minister urged Ghanaians to renew their commitment to reversing land degradation and desertification. He said the situation of land degradation was especially affecting women who traditionally devoted time and effort to land as they grew, processed, managed and marketed most of the food and other natural resources.

World Environment Day was celebrated on June 5, 2008 at Shama, Western Region, under the theme: "Kick the Habit! Towards Low Carbon Economy."

The celebration of the day recognized that climate change was becoming the defining issue of an era, and underscored the need for countries, companies and communities to focus on greenhouse gas emissions and how to reduce them. "We need to highlight the resources and initiatives that promote low carbon economics and lifestyles, such as improved energy efficiency, alternative energy sources, forest conservation and eco-friendly consumption," Mr. Adjei-Darko said.

The other day-World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, which fell on June 17, 2008, was on the theme: "Combating land degradation for sustainable agriculture" was used to remind the world community of the importance of land as global heritage which no human being can live without. Contributions by Members underscored the growing threat of desertification, especially in Ghana's Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions and called for collaborative efforts among individuals, government and non-governmental organizations to halt the spread of loss of forest cover down south and reduce the emission of greenhouse gases. 18 June 08