AFRICAN VALUES ON ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION: SOME CHALLENGES TODAY.

Environmental crisis has today become a serious phenomenon and a major concern and challenge to modern nations of Africa. This paper is intended to examine how African values can help in preserving the environment of man. This work discovered that African indigenous values are at variants with western views and practices. The West sees nature as a secular resource to be exploited for personal profit and use. African indigenous values in contrast see nature wholistically, something to be venerated and used for the good of the community. Indigenous values see God as the source and preserver of creation. This is one of the reasons for the veneration of nature. There is strong relationship and harmony between God, Man and nature. God gave mother nature to man for food, health, shelter, protection and where man will finally return. Africans have some values and practices that can help preserve nature and the ecosystem. Some animals and birds are totemic; there are myths and taboos to preserve them. In most societies, there are myths and taboos in handling certain natural features like land, plants, forests, animals, soil, water etc. Values and practices like collective land ownership, subsistence agriculture, land-tenure system, shifting cultivation, terracing, mixed cropping and mixed farming are all healthy practices for protecting the environment. In spite of the challenges of secularization and globalization, a more lasting solution to the environmental crisis in Africa today should be sourced primarily from within Africa. And a blend of good traditional and modern values will help in preserving the environment.