The town of Butembo, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is facing a major problem: the erosion heads that dot its territory. These erosion heads are primarily caused by sand mining in area streams and rivers. Civil society in the municipality of Bulengera took advantage of the International Day for Disaster Reduction to draw the attention of the authorities to this worrying situation.
According to John Kameta, president of the Bulengera civil society, many mothers engage in this sand extraction activity and are subject to taxation by the state. However, this disorderly exploitation of sand has a disastrous impact on the environment. Entire plots disappear due to erosion caused by this practice.
In addition to sand mining, the Butembo region also faces other erosion problems due to the poor geological quality of the soil. Faced with this situation, civil society is asking the authorities to take measures to combat erosion heads and to prohibit the disorderly exploitation of sand.
It is undeniable that erosion heads constitute a major environmental problem for the city of Butembo. It is essential that authorities take urgent action to prevent future disasters. It is also necessary to raise awareness among the population about the consequences of these sand extraction practices and to promote sustainable and environmentally friendly alternatives.
Protecting the environment is a collective responsibility and it is essential that all stakeholders involved, whether governmental or individual, work together to preserve the beauty and sustainability of our planet.
Research the link between sand mining and the taxation of mothers, you could propose more concrete solutions and sustainable alternatives to this activity. For example, encourage the creation of women’s cooperatives for sand exploitation with environmentally friendly practices, and thus avoid harmful effects on soil erosion.