In a bid to curb desert encroachment and land degradation, the Sokoto State Government has banned the practice of felling trees which some use as firewood for domestic purposes.
Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal stated this Monday at the flag-off of this year’s tree planting campaign which held at Kawadata, Goronyo Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
According to him, to mitigate the effect of the new policy on rural dwellers, government would provide modern stoves while encouraging residents to explore other sources of energy like coal.
Tambuwal also urged residents to cultivate planting of cash trees like gum Arabic and date palm which he said would not only help in preserving the environment, but alleviate poverty and tackle unemployment.
The governor said growing of trees is both an environmental and spiritual obligation, adding that Islam encourages planting of trees for the benefit of communities.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Environment, Garba Muhammed Sarkin-Kudu, said that, for this year, a two-kilometre shelter-belt would be established in the three senatorial zones of the state.
He said that, in addition, the government’s house-to-house tree planting campaign has been carried out in the 400 housing estates across the state to provide shelter and serve as windbreak.
The theme for this year’s campaign is sustainable ecosystem restoration.
By Abdallah el-Kurebe
