On Katsina’s afforestation challenge

In the past, it had also initiated a well-sustained tree planting campaign to check rampaging flood, which often washes away houses, crops and even farmlands. All over the world, afforestation is aimed at mitigating climate change. It prevents desert encroachment by stabilising the soil and reducing the speed of winds.  The need for the initiative […]

In the past, it had also initiated a well-sustained tree planting campaign to check rampaging flood, which often washes away houses, crops and even farmlands.
All over the world, afforestation is aimed at mitigating climate change. It prevents desert encroachment by stabilising the soil and reducing the speed of winds.  
The need for the initiative became paramount due to increasing desertification, occasioned largely by excessive exploitation of the forest.
The menace of desertification in some northern states has become so worrisome that even the federal government had to come out with a holistic action to tackle it. It approved N10billion for the commencement of the afforestation programme, to be carried out by the resuscitated National Council on Shelterbelt and Afforestation, headed by Vice President Namadi Sambo.
At the home front, the state government, through the SURE-P Department, has risen to the occasion by mitigating the effect of desertification through the strengthening of afforestation programmes, improved crop production,  public enlightenment, effective early warning system and alternative livelihood, including building of shelter-belts, massive tree planting programmes and construction of dams for drinking water, irrigation and other purposes.
The afforestation drive saw to the immediate employment of over 3,400 youths across all the local government areas of the state in the first phase of the programme.
The state government also went ahead to form a tree planting monitoring committee comprising of the Commissioner for Environment, Alhaji Jamilu Muhammad Danmusa and others.  
Aminu Magaji Idris , Rafin Dadi Area, Katsina, Katsina State.