NAN-AE-17
Forest
Jos, June 5, 2017(NAN) Dr Labara Rikko of Eagle Eye Climate Change Initiative, a non-governmental organisation, has called on the government to employ forest guards to protect forest reserves across the country from depletion.
Rikko made the appeal on Monday in Jos at the celebration of the World Environmental Day, organised by the Plateau Field Office of Federal Ministry of Environment.
She said that if forest guards were employed by the government at all levels, the depletion of forest reserves would reduce appreciably, as the guards would check the activities of encroachers.
Rikko said that deforestation was a major factor behind the current climate change, which had adverse effects on the environment and man.
She said that deforestation had caused the loss of more than 33.3 per cent of the country’s forests.
Rikko attributed the late onset of rains and the unpredictable rainfall patterns to the climate change which he, however, described as a global phenomenon.
She said that the other evidences of climate change included the rise in temperature, as the weather had now become warmer.
Rikko said that if the consequences of the climate change were not tackled on time or well-managed, there would be water shortage and drought, as the level of the underground water was fast-declining.
She said that forest and trees, in general, helped in maintaining biodiversity, protecting the soil surface from erosion and reducing the effect of greenhouse gases.
Besides, Rikko called on the government to implement laws and policies that would outlaw illegal tree felling and stipulate stiff penalties for defaulters to serve as a deterrent to others.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a tree was planted at the event to mark the World Environment Day. (NAN)
UBO/ORO/OOK
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Edited by Razak Owolabi and Dayo Komolafe