The Zamfara State Government has cautioned residents of the state against the indiscriminate cutting down of trees to prevent environmental challenges.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Garba Dauran, gave the warning in Gusau on Monday at an event to commemorate the 2024 World Environment Day.

The event with the theme ‘Land restoration, desertification and drought resilience,’ was organised by the ministry in collaboration with UNICEF.

Mr Dauran said, “As we all know, among the major challenges to our environment today are pollution, overpopulation, land degradation and deforestation.

“Other challenges include waste management, flood, erosion, greenhouse effect global warming and climate change. These challenges are multi-sectoral in nature comprising: Environment, agriculture and water resources.’’

According to him, one of the major challenges to the environment sector is the increasing felling down of trees.

He said, “I am therefore calling on the residents of the state to avoid illegal cutting of trees. The state government under Governor Dauda Lawal has established a forest management agency for afforestation and reforestation activities aimed at addressing environmental challenges. Addressing environmental challenges is a responsibility of all, not the government alone. Therefore, all hands must be on deck for proper solutions to various environmental challenges.’’

In his remarks, the representative of UNICEF Sokoto Field Office, Kabir Safana, assured of its sustained support to ensure proper environmental management.

“UNICEF will continue to partner with the state government to implement strategies towards addressing various environmental challenges,” Mr Safana said.

The Programme Manager, State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, Sani Gurbinbore, said that the event was organised to raise public awareness on the various challenges directly affecting the environment.

Mr Gurbinbore commended the various stakeholders who participated in the event, adding that addressing environmental issues was the responsibility of all.

Earlier, while presenting a paper titled ‘Land restoration,’ Dr Al’amin Tsafe, from the Federal University, Gusau, highlighted the effects of overpopulation, land use and other human practices resulting in environmental degradation and  the loss of soil nutrients.

Mr Tsafe urged the government and other relevant stakeholders to promote climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy and tree planting activities to provide lasting solutions to the environmental challenges.

The event was attended by various stakeholders including representatives from government agencies, traditional rulers, NGOs, CSOs and the media, among others.

(NAN)