NAN-AE-6
Seedlings
Jos, June 5, 2017 (NAN) Students of the Federal College of Forestry, Jos, on Monday planted about 200 tree seedlings in the college premises and its environs to mitigate the impact of climate change.
The Provost of the college, Mrs Victoria Joshua, who supervised the tree planting, said that the exercise would boost biodiversity and reduce the effect of greenhouse gases on the ozone layer.
Joshua told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the availability of enough trees would help offset the build-up of carbon dioxide in the air and, in turn, reduce the effect of greenhouse gases.
She said that tree planting was very beneficial to man, adding that it was also advantageous to animals and the ecosystem at large.
“The act of tree planting, aside its tremendous benefits to man by giving us oxygen since plants absorb carbon dioxide and give out oxygen which we breathe in; they also provide natural habitat for wildlife.
“Sadly, the wildlife is gradually becoming extinct because their habitation is now taken over by urbanisation.
“Trees also help to balance the biodiversity and they serve as windbreaks.
“They also absorb carbon dioxide and potentially harmful gases such as sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide from the air and, in turn, release oxygen; they help reduce pollution,’’ she said.
Besides, Joshua said that trees reduced surface water runoff from downpour, thus, decreasing the menace of soil erosion and accumulation of sediments in streams.
The provost called on the public to desist from indiscriminate tree felling, saying that it was very detrimental to man and the ecosystem at large.
“If for any reason a tree is cut, a tree seedling should be planted to replace it. Such tree should be nurtured until it can survive on its own,” she said. (NAN)
UBO/MAS/OOK
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Edited by Moses Solanke and Dayo Komolafe