Graduate researcher from the Center for Climate Change and Sustainability Studies in the University of Ghana and Board Director for West African Primate Conservation Action (WAPCA), Esther Chachele Foloong has advocated for the implementation of permaculture principles within the university campus.
She was speaking in an exclusive interview with UniversNews on the need for the introduction of permaculture in the University’s community.
Permaculture refers to the use of an environment’s resources to ensure self-sufficiency whilst minimising the instances of waste of resources.
Mrs. Folong advised for the increase in the practice of the principle of the approach.
“Permaculture can be encouraged on a larger scale within campus where we can incorporate the concepts of first observing how nature deals with waste, how nature heals itself, how nature regenerates itself, and how nature strives for survival on its own. Mimicking all of this is something very doable and some places on campus is already even doing something like this.”
Mrs. Folong further highlighted the several advantages permaculture would provide to the campus’ environment.
“Pemaculture has several advantages to its practice. One, it promotes biodiversity and it helps the preservation of wildlife. It also offers solutions for soil fertility. It plays a very vital role in water conservation, climate change mitigation and even animal habitats. The principles within Pema culture can maximise biodiversity and preserve wildlife by creating more habitats for more animal species to thrive.”
Mrs. Folong also urged management to increase durations of field trips to ensure adequate acquisition of knowledge.
She asserted that a prolonged stay in the fields would also help students to understand the concepts of nature better.
“The field trips that Legon has inculcated into its curriculum, is very important because it brings theory to practice, like it brings the practicality of what we study in the classrooms to life. A few hours of staying at the trip destination will not really give you the needed experience that you need. So we can also improve on that regard by extending students’ stay time in the field to be able to understand the concepts of nature well.”
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Story by | Brian Bebli-Dussey | univers.ug.edu.gh
