Neil I think some plants clean up pollution using their roots.
Beth OK, Neil. We'll find out the correct answer later. Phytoremediating plants are
certainly needed in one of the most oil polluted places on Earth
–
the delta of the
River Niger in Nigeria. Ever since oil, known by the nickname, black gold, was
discovered there in the 1950s, it's become central to Nigeria's economy. But oil
spills have devastated the
region’s
landscape, and there is mistrust between local
communities and the multinational oil companies working there.
Neil Now one woman - and her plants
–
are trying to fix the problem. Eucharia Nwaichi
is a biochemist from the University of Port Harcourt in Nigeria. She uses
phytoremediation to clean and protect
the region’s
land and rivers. Discussing
Eucharia’s work are, Georgina Rannard, from the
BBC climate news team, and,
Myra Anubi, presenter of BBC World Service programme, People Fixing the World:
Georgina Rannard Eucharia is a specialist in phytoremediation…
Myra Anubi …that w
ord again. It basically means plants being used to clean up contaminated
environments, right?
Georgina Rannard Right, and when I met her recently in London she had just won the Maddox Prize.
This is a
prestigious award for scientists showing courage in the face of hostility.
Now, the Niger Delta is a really dangerous and challenging place to work in, and
despite personal risk to her safety, Eucharia has spent twenty years teaching
communities there how these plants can suck up toxic oil from the ground and
bring their land
back to life .
Beth Eucharia’s work won her a
prestigious scientific award.