The Kogi State Government has flagged off aggressive tree planting of 17,166 trees and promotion of climate smart agriculture in the three senatorial district of the state.
The tree planting project was made through the state agro-climatic resilience in semi-arid landscapes.
The Project Coordinator of the ACReSAL, Ladi Ahmed Jatto, made the disclosure at the flag off ceremony in Kabba, KabbabBunu LGA of the state.
Ladi said the project aims at restoring 600 hectres of land, with support for 150 farmers with improved maize seedlings for dry season farmers for farmers in Kabba.
Ladi described landscape management as important to agriculture, said the ACRESAL project in the state has started yielding dividends in the state, praised Gov. Yahaya Bello for his friendly disposition to the environment.
To cushion the over reliance on firewood and stop the further release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, the state government she disclosed has provided 303 clean cooking stoves to women in the western senatorial district of state, said 100 women in Kabba Bunu are part of the beneficiaries.
Similarly towards reducing the sufferings for women searching for clean water and relying on boreholes powered by fossil generator, the administration she disclosed has installed 21 solar powered boreholes and street lights in some communities, 7 in the western senatorial district, with 50 solar powered street lights across the senatorial district.
Ladi lamented the negative impact of falling down trees says trees help to absorb dangerous gases, release into the air as well as hold the soil together.
“Trees help in reducing flooding, absorb all bad emissions and help in releasing clean energy.
“Trees help in healing reason why the people of Kabba Bunu LGA must embark on aggressive planting of trees.
“Are we happy with degradation, change in weather pattern, comfortable with extreme whether condition, erosion swallowing home and biodiversity?”
The Project Coordinator described the negative impact of climate change and global warming as caused by activities of man, says tree falling leads to release of harmful gases into the atmosphere, said the time to do things for the future generation to enjoy safe environment cannot be overemphasised.
Ladi said the land management project, which is a six year project, has four components, assured that it will lead to a safe society for people to live in.
Speaking at the occasion, the Obaro of Kabba, Oba Solomon Owoniyi, described the initiative as timely, urged for the sustainability of the project.
The Traditional Ruler assured that the people of the community would actively participate in ensuring the safe environment, urged the citizens to embrace the aggressive tree planting project.
The Kogi State Commissioner for Environment, Omofaiye Victor Adewale, described plating trees as lifeline of the planet.
The Commissioner who doubles as the Chairman of the tree planting, said the state government has embrace the policy of discouraging deforestation, appreciated the support of World Bank in making the aggressive planting a reality.
Highlights of the occasion was the planting of trees by the Commissioner For Environment, the Obaro of Kabba, students, opinion moulders, amongst other notable personalities.
