Environment Day: KDSG to plant 10m trees

Environment Day: KDSG to plant 10m trees

By Ezra Musa

Kaduna, June 5, 2024 (NAN) As the world marks this year’s Environment Day, the Kaduna State Government says it will plant 10 million trees across the front-line local government areas to prevent desertification in the state.

Dr Hadiza Balarabe, the State Deputy Governor, disclosed  this on Wednesday during an event to mark the 2024 World Environment Day in Kaduna.

The theme of this year’s day is: ‘Land Restoration, Desertification and Drought Resilience’.

According to her, land degradation, drought, desertification and their  impact on the environment and  human livelihoods have become pressing issues of global environmental concerns that require urgent attention.

She said that land degradation was both a cause and consequence of climate change.

”Its restoration offers a powerful solution with the potential to limit climate change and achieve sustainable development goals,” she added.

The deputy governor disclosed that the state had developed its climate change policy which would launch a 10 million tree planting campaign.

“The project will serve as a major carbon sink and provide numerous benefits including carbon credits to build resistance,” she explained.

“Land restoration offers a powerful solution with the potential to limit climate change and achieve sustainable development goals,” she explained.

The deputy governor called on other public institutions, the private sector, civil society organisations and other groups to support government initiatives.

Earlier in his opening remarks, Abubakar Buba, Commissioner for Environment, had said that the day was a call to action for collective efforts to save the environment.

“It is most pertinent that we intentionally work toward sustaining the balance in our ecosystem by keeping our planet replenished with its natural forms and maintaining its equilibrium,” he said.

Uman Danlami, Chairman, House Committee on Environment,  said the climate change crisis was real and its impacts are already being felt in our communities.

He expressed the readiness of his colleagues in the Assembly to give the document speedy attention when it gets to the house, due to its importance to the State.

Danlami called on the residents of the state to plant trees to combat climate change.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the highlights of the event were tree planting, presentation of awards to eco-friendly environment organisations and the winners for the school quiz competition. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

EMZ/BRM

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Esdited by Bashir Rabe Mani