A non-governmental organisation, Mercy Corps, has distributed about
1,400 tree seedlings to communities in Katsina State to bolster the fight
against desertification and mitigate climate change. An officer in charge of natural resources management, Paul Mafulol,
handed over the seedlings to some of the communities on Wednesday in Batsari.
The officer revealed that the communities were in Batsari, Danmusa, Jibia and
Kankara Local Government Areas of the state.
He said that the communities requested the tree seedlings during the World
Wildlife Day and World Environment Day celebrations recently in Katsina.
“Today, we are in Batsari to sensitise the community stakeholders on the
process of planting and maturing the tree seedlings. We will also discuss the
benefits of tree planting in combating climate change,” he said.
The corps is implementing a project, “Conflict Mitigation and Community
Reconciliation in Northwest Nigeria (CMCR-NW).”
The project is being implemented in collaboration with the International
Organisation for Migration and the Centre for Democracy and Development.
In his remarks, the Director, Waste Management and Environmental Assessment,
Katsina State Ministry of Environment, Nura Abubakar, stressed the importance
of planting a tree in society.
He said that trees were of great importance to human beings because they
provide oxygen necessary for survival.
According to him, trees also help to reduce desertification, soil erosion,
mitigate climate change and other environmental challenges.
The director urged the residents to intensify efforts to plant trees in their
respective communities.
Also speaking, the Assistant Director of Forestry, Muhammad Nasir, observed
that planting trees reduces conflict between farmers and herders. (NAN)