Environmentalist calls for tree planting to curb desertification
NAN-AE-3
Tree
By Vivian Emoni
Abuja, March 14, 2017 (NAN) Mr Williams Osaze, President, Society for the Promotion of People`s Rights, an (NGO), has urged Nigerians to cultivate tree planting habit to forestall desertification and natural disaster.
Osaze said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday, in Abuja.
According to him, trees are being felled indiscriminately without replacement and this has exposed the environment to erosion and other natural and environmental disaster.
Osaze further advised Nigerians to embrace tree planting as one of the most reliable and cheapest means of combating the negative effects of global warming and climate change.
“Nigerians should curtail the uncontrolled felling of trees. We all need to imbibe the habit of planting trees instead of felling them, for a world without trees is a world without life’’.
“The Federal Government should adopt a yearly tree planting campaign initiative in every states of the federation.
“The initiative must also be sustained; it should be such exercise that must be maintained in all the states even to the local levels.
“Such initiative will help to enhance the transformation of the country into a greener, healthier, safer and orderly mega city.
“Meanwhile, the only way to sustain the exercise is to educate Nigerians especially at the local levels, let them know the importance of tree planting and dangers of desertification in the society.
“The sustainability of the initiative will enable Nigerians share the benefits inherent in tree planting.
“Part of the benefits include provision of shade, wind brakes, prevention of flood and desert encroachment, as well as reducing the effect of global warming, among others,’’ he said.
Osaze noted that as trees get cut down, plant and animal populations dwindle, which endangers the livelihood of the human population that depends on the forests for food, medicine and other products.
He, however, urged the government to ensure that all developers adhere to town planning and greening regulations.
He also advised governments at all levels to adopt the best ways or practices that could moderate the adverse effects of climate change on the ecosystem.(NAN)
VOE/EAL
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Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi