West African countries discuss desertification

Experts from west Africa and the nine-nation Interstate Committee For Drought Control in the Sahel have been meeting in Lome since Thursday to prepare an action programme against desertification in West Africa to be referred to a ministerial conference scheduled for 25 May.

Panafrican news agency PANA reports that the meeting is examining and amending a draft action programme for adoption by the ministers.

Opening the meeting, the Togolese forestry and environment minister Koffi Adade said "over-exploitation of land, bush fires, deforestation and overgrazing imperil our planet."

He urged West African countries to strengthen cooperation for the promotion of a real environmental code of ethics.