The Kano State Government has flagged off the planting of 1 Million Trees as part of initiative towards addressing climate change and preserving its ecosystem.
The State Commissioner of Environment, Dr. Kabiru Ibrahim Getso stated this while commencing the process in kano.
He said the move was in line with the 2021 tree planting campaign with the theme: mitigating climate change effects and achieving beautification in Kano State aimed at checkmating the menace of indiscriminate felling of trees, climate change, soil erosion, land degradation and desertification.
Dr Kabiru Ibrahim Getso recalled that in 2020 the State experienced extreme heat with maximum temperature of about 44degrees Celsius which expert described as signs of global warming and climate change and was attributed to inadequate trees thereby having adverse effects on the environment.
He said to address the challenge and many others, the State in collaboration with Givfree Africa have concluded arrangements for planting 1million seedlings across the 44 LGAs of the State during a two weeks Campaign which will run in two phases.
The Commissioner noted that notable places to cover included the State road, schools, hospitals, mosques and churches among other strategic places, while Zaria road, B.U.K New site to Kabuga road and Gama community would all be covered in the first phase.
He explained that the Governor of Abdullahi Umar Ganduje is expected to preside over the second phase where at least 1200 seedlings will be planted at the Yusuf Maitama Sule University main Campus.
Dr Kabiru Ibrahim Getso Ibrahim highligted some of the benefits of planting trees which include; supply of oxygen, improve air quality, providing natural air conditioning, control climate change and reduces climate change by absorbing CO2 from the air among others.
“we have keyed into the National Great Green Wall Project and presently, actively participating in the Nigera Erosion and Watershed Management Project and most recently the State entered into a 20 years public-private partnership with a private company (CapeGate) in order to ensure efficient Municipal Solid Waste Management among many other intervention programs to address the problems”
Other measures include conduct of pests and vector control exercises, environmental education and awareness programmes as well as promotion of use of clean energy to mitigate air pollution through distribution of natural gas cooking facilities and clean cook stoves free-of- charge to women.
Abdullahi Jalaludeen