Kaduna state government is to plant 10 million trees to combat desertification and reclaim degraded land across the state.
Deputy Governor of the State, Dr Hadiza Balarabe announced this at an event to commemorate the 2024 World Environment Day and flagging off tree planting held at the Kaduna State University.
Dr Balarabe explained that, despite the progress of Nigeria’s Great Green Wall project, desert encroachment into Kaduna State persists.
According to her, the challenge has inspired Kaduna Great Green Wall project to planting millions of trees across frontline Local Government Areas-LGAs to prevent further desertification.
Dr Balarabe maintained that, Kaduna State has developed Climate Change Policy, which is currently awaiting council approval soon.
“We will officially launch an ambitious campaign to plant 10 million trees, an initiative unparalleled in Nigeria. This project will serve as a major carbon sink and provide numerous benefits, including carbon credits to build resilience”.
According to her, desertification, land degradation, and drought are silent destroyers that impacted both people and the planet.
“Fertile and productive lands are essential for numerous human activities. This therefore denotes that, desertification and drought will present significant barriers to sustainable development, and thereby exacerbating poverty, poor health, food insecurity, biodiversity loss, water scarcity, forced migration, and reduced climate resilience.
“Land degradation is 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”.
Dr Balarabe pointed out that, in Nigeria, significant efforts have been made to combat the challenges, stressing that, over 1,558.62 hectares of degraded land have been rehabilitated under the visionary leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria is committed to meeting its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) by conditionally reducing emissions by 47% by 2030.
“In Kaduna State, through the World Bank-supported ACRESAL project, we aim to reclaim 20,000 hectares of degraded land.
“The Eco Citizen Kaduna initiative encourages green impact investments and opportunities for sustainable development in the state. It promotes the potential for climate-smart communities through Green impact investment”.
Dr Hadiza Balarabe called on other public institutions, the private sector, civil society organizations, and other groups to support government initiatives.
“We are delighted that some organizations are already aligning with our vision. Notably, the Nigerian Defence Academy has launched a Biodiversity and Conservation Centre and a one million tree planting campaign, these initiatives support our vision perfectly.
“As we mark World Environment Day 2024, let us recommit ourselves to the cause of land restoration, drought resilience, and desertification progress. Let us pledge to work together, across borders and boundaries, to protect our lands, our water, and our natural heritage”.
Vice Chancellor of KASU, Professor Abdullahi Musa, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Environment, Linda Asabe Yakubu, Special Assistant to the Governor of Kaduna State on Climate Change Yusuf Amoke, and other dignitaries had witnessed flagging off the tree planting campaign in KASU.
The World Environment Day 2024 with the theme “Land Restoration, Drought Resilience, and Desertification Progress”.
Aminu Dalhatu
