By Ibrahim Yakubu
A non governmental organization that protect the environment “Teku international Farm Kaduna State”, Northwest Nigeria, has embarked on planting of new -tree -species that are resistance to hot weather, especially in desert prone areas to combat global warming, desertification, Deforestation and environmental degradation.
According to him, Reforestation is one of our best tools to fight the climate crisis across the planet, and hence the need to sustain the hype on the fight against global warming and other ecological challenges affecting the existence of of the forestry.
Mr ibrahim salisu who is the National President of the organization was speaking with newsmen on this year’s Event.
He expressed dissatisfaction over the increased number of forest trees that were being cut down for commercial purposes which include charcoal, firewood and timber without replanting them for the future .
Stressing that Cutting down trees for logging bussiness , opening up farmland or to feed energy demand for a growing population is putting pressure on Nigeria’s natural forests.
On the Africa climate Week (ACW )2022 which will be held from 29 August to 2 September in Gabon, he said the event would provide opportunities for horticulture to mobilise youths and women to join them in the campaign toward planting millions of trees.
” As trees grow, they help stop climate change by removing carbon dioxide from the air, storing carbon in the trees and soil, and releasing oxygen into the atmosphere.
“Trees provide many benefits to us, every minutes and every hours for our living”.
Mr Salisu emphasized that his organization and African climate reporters have embarked on planting traditional trees in Hausa language which include ‘Dogon Yaro’, ‘Darbejiya’, ‘Dinya’ and ‘Madaci’ itacen dorawa and goroba.
According to him, the aim of the exercise is to plant more trees that are resistant to hot weather and temperature in the desert for the purpose of having more forests to reduce desertification in the region.
Adding that Teku farm had introduced a new way of planting trees on desert land and hills with the aim of increasing trees to reduce global warming and environmental challenges affecting human, animals and plants.
Responding ,a Scence and Environmental journalist .who is equally the head of international languages and communication working with African climate reporters Ibrahima Pima Yakubu observed that nigeria is losing large hectares of agricultural land due to climate change and environmental degradation .
According to him, there are many reports indicating how Nigeria is losing her forestry as a result of Loggers activities that are destroying trees which involved cutting down trees for commercial businesses in large quantities
From 2001 to 2021, according to him, Nigeria lost 1.14 million hectares of tree cover, equivalent to a 11% decrease in tree cover since 2000 and equal to 587 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, according to Global Forest Watch, a platform that provides data and monitors forests.
He said majority of the lodgers use axe and machetes to cut down forest in large quantities
He called on Federal Government to ban importation of forest trees, while calling for massive trees planting campaigns across the 36 states of Nigeria.
While suggesting tougher punishment for illegal miners Yakubu appealed to government to equally ban wild life hunting in order to save forest animal
Africa Climate Week 2022 , he said, will engage and empower stakeholders to drive climate action across countries, communities and economies.
