Nigeria Daily News: Katsina plants 3.5m tree seedlings to combat desertification

Katsina plants 3.5m tree seedlings to combat desertification
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Staff on 21/08/2012 10:30:00


Katsina – The Katsina State Government will plant 3.5 million tree seedlings
across the state this year as part of efforts to check desertification in the
state, an official has said.
Alhaji Aminu Ibrahim, the State Commissioner for Environment, made the
disclosure on Tuesday in Katsina.
He said the government had selected some people in each of the 34 local
government areas (LGAs) of the state to plant and nurse the tree seedlings up to
maturity stage.
“A motorcycle will be given to the best person in each of the seven forestry
zones of the state in order to boost their morale,’’ the commissioner said.
He said a one kilometre shelterbelt comprising economic tress in all the LGAs
would be established under the project.
Ibrahim said further that the programme was expected to generate about 240 jobs
for people of the state.
He said the measure was part of the administration’s commitment towards
curbing desertification which has become one of the major problems affecting the
environment in the state.
The commissioner warned people of the state to avoid the indiscriminate felling
of trees.
He said it was the major cause of desert encroachment and soil erosion, which
have also led to flooding.
On environmental sanitation, Ibrahim urged the public to always keep their
surroundings clean.
“Government has taken steps to improve environmental sanitation in the
state,’’ he said.(NAN)
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