How Climate change is shrinking African stream/Rivers ,thereby causing extinction of aquatics & exposing the dead rocks beneath River to sun light

A Nigerian Journalist with scientists have visited some  local stream in the northern City of Nigeria with the aims of  check-mating  the impact of climate change on the aquatic animals ,and also to see  how are the local farmers and the fishers men adapting to the climatic changes in the area

Majority of The fisher men that were interview By some journalists in Northern Nigeria testify that many species of fishes  in the River that they usually see in the area has disappear for long time.

It is clear that Climate change has  already beginning to affect plants and animals that live in freshwater lakes and rivers, altering their habitat and bringing life-threatening stress and disease and these problems can seen in most of the African continent

But the fact is as  air temperatures rise, water temperatures do also—particularly in shallow stretches of rivers and surface waters of lakes. Streams and lakes may become unsuitable for cold-water fish but support species that thrive in warmer waters. Some warm-water species are already moving to waters at higher latitudes and altitudes.

Many River /streams  in African countries remain dry ,thereby causing extinction of large number of aquatic lives ,as many of them  are still facing series of problems due to negligence by authority to find ways of protecting them for irrigation and for domestic uses.

Research indicate that ,World’s major rivers drying – one-third are gone or going. Groundwater wells for 3 billion people are drying up. Top 10 global river systems drying, ebbing away:

In Africa ,it can seen that Dryness of stream or River always force Thousands of cattle breeders  migrating from one African country to another in search of water and food for their animals

Declining water quality is another consequence of climate change. Water temperature, for example, will generally rise in streams, lakes, and reservoirs as air temperature rises. This tends to lead to lower levels of dissolved oxygen in water, hence more stress on the fish, insects, crustaceans and other aquatic animals that rely on oxygen. As more – and more intense – precipitation leads to increased runoff in certain regions, we can also expect more pollution to be washed into our waterways: sediments, nitrogen from agriculture, disease pathogens, pesticides, and herbicides.  Naturally, the pollution load in streams and rivers will tend to be carried to larger bodies of water downstream – lakes, estuaries, and the coastal ocean – where one of the more dramatic consequences of heavy runoff can be blooms of harmful algae and bacteria.

A new comprehensive review studying global carbon provided recommendation for reducing the effects of climate change, which included protection of the world’s carbon sinks, increased dependence on renewable energy, and the reduction of fossil fuel use—all totally feasible goals.

In a new era of conditions dangerously affected by global warming , the world’s waters are rapidly running dry, creating crisis for wild habitats and human civilizations. The following are some of the seas, rivers, lakes, and underground water reserves we have lost or are losing, impacting the livelihoods of hundreds of millions people, animals, farming, lives, electricity, and threatening with CO2 and methane release, exacerbating climate change.

If we want to avoid river extinctions elsewhere on our planet and the havoc they will wreak on local ecosystems, not to mention other harmful effects of climate change, now is the moment to act.

The following is a list of some of the most vital and largest bodies of water which are dying or completely gone.

AFRICA:
Rivers from Mt. Kenya,

Most lakes in Kenya
Africa’s largest lake, Lake Victoria
Africa’s 4th largest lake, Lake Chad
Worlds longest, Nile River
Worlds 3rd longest, Niger River
Rivers and streams in Kaoma, Zambia
Tanzania’s Lake Natron
Tanzania’s Lake Manyara

It must be noted that ,Not all rivers and streams plot a constant course towards the sea.  Some naturally dry up when there is little rain, leaving behind a dry stream bed which floods the next time there is a heavy storm.  In fact, most river systems have areas where at least some of the river bed will dry up, usually for days, sometimes for months or years.

Additionally dry river beds can act as egg and seed banks for many aquatic insects and plants which lie dormant in dry periods, then hatch or germinate when water returns.  Dry river beds can also provide important migration corridors through the landscape for some animals, often guiding the way to where there may be temporary waterholes.

Whether we like it or not ,climate change has affected many  agricultural farm land in Africa, and climate change is still causing the spread of many  dangerous diseases which are becoming great challenges to human health

It is also observed that most farmers residing alone River band in Africa, also complain bitterly over the threat of climate change which is causing a serious setback to their farming

In conclusion, African Government must rise up and introduce series off educative programmed to the farmers and fishers, and also introduce ways of planting trees and fight against deforestation and desertification