The Governor of Kano state, Abba Yusuf on Wednesday, said his government has warned against continuous cutting of trees, vowing not to spare anyone found involved in unauthorised tree felling in the state.
According to him, avoiding deforestation is imperative to cushion extreme heat temperatures experienced in the state in the past years which was partly attributed to inadequate trees thereby hurting the environment.
The governor gave the charge while flagging off the planting of over 3 million trees to launch the 2024 statewide tree planting campaign as part of measures to checkmate climate change in the state.
He called on the people to inculcate the habit of planting trees in their environments.
In his words: Due to the huge benefit of trees in our lives, I wish to put it in the record that Kano State Government will not relent in its effort in bringing to book any resident found wanting in felling of trees without obtaining an authorised permit or clearance from the state ministry of environment and climate change.
“This incognizance of the fact that global warming is real, the world is changing by adapting different techniques of mitigating climate change hence the good people of Kano state must key into the change trend.
“It is on record that in the year 2023 and the first quarter of this year. Kano State experienced extreme heat with temperatures rising to 44 degrees which was partly attributed to inadequate trees thereby hurting the environment.
“The 2024 Tree Planting Campaign is meant to checkmate the menace of indiscriminate felling of trees, climate change, soil erosion, land degradation as well as enhance productivity of agricultural land and decrease the rate of desertification.
“Let me reiterate here that as individuals or groups we should inculcate the habit of planting trees in our minds and take responsibility for preserving and management of the trees so that together we can achieve a greener and cleaner Environment.
“Today, on this auspicious occasion marking the official flag off of this year’s tree planting campaign in which we intend to plant more than three Million trees in Kano State, in our houses, streets, markets, places of worships, places of works, farmlands, forest reserves and so on, planting trees in our environment is necessary now more than ever, particularly with the apparent dangers of global warming arising from climate change.
“ In this regard, let me say that our administration is committed towards planting 10 million trees within our 1st Term in office,” Governor Yusuf stated.
Similarly, the 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II called on the residents as well as district heads and ward heads to imbibe the culture of planting trees in their environments to mitigate climate change.
Earlier, the State’s Commissioner for Environment, Nasiru Sule Garo said the importance of trees cannot be overemphasised, noting that more tree planting would aid in lowering the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide.
“The more trees planted, the cleaner the air will be and the air would be pure and free of toxins if there were sufficient oxygen”, he stated.
