Adamawa State gov’t kicks off Tree planting campaign
By Babangida Galleon
Adamawa state governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has directed the Agro-climatic resilience in semi-Arid landscapes to embark on tree planting in the state.
Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri gave the directive during the fag off ceremony of tree planting campaign organized by the Agro-climatic resilience in semi-Arid landscape , with the support of the world bank and the Adamawa state government which took place at Girei local government area of the state.
Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri said the Agro-climatic resilience in semi-Arid landscape is aimed at reforesting one thousand five hundred hectres of forest reserve in Adamawa state.
“I have immediately directed ACReSAL to embark on an ambitious drive to green our State capital. Set up Agroforestry demonstration farms in every local government area using a community-driven approach, introduce 1,200 hectres of irrigation schemes in selected areas”, Governor Fintiri disclosed.
Governor Fintiri had equally ordered the organization to set up agro forest demonstration farms in all the local government areas of the state using a community based approach and introduce one thousand two hundred hectres of irrigation scheme.
The governor also urged the people of the state to take ownership and embrace the tree planting campaign as a commitment to the wellbeing of the environment.
Speaking on the project, the Adamawa state ACReSAL project coordinator, Doctor Ibrahim Chinda said the aim of the tree planting campaign is to combat the consequences of climate change, which is also in line governor Fintiri’s eight point agenda of the second tenure amongst which is care of the environment in response to global trends and the environment is now suffering from this adverse effects of the climate change as there is increase in temperature, flood, draught , erosion and reduced agricultural yields and the recent sand storm witness in the state last year amongst other.
According to him, the Agro-climatic resilience in semi-Arid landscape projects is design to take actions through three sectors which are agriculture, water resources and the environment adding that in the coming weeks the project is going to distribute carefully chosen seedlings to be planted in educational and health institutions as well as other government institutions and households across the state.
Also speaking during the ceremony, the Federal Controller, Federal Ministry of environment Sadiya Mohammed Abubakar said the project will help in restoring the environment and in the long run provide job opportunities and secure the present generation and the generation to come.
In his key note address, the commissioner for environment, Mohammed Sadiq said the tree planting campaign is a testament to the commitment of the fintiri led administration towards a sustainable greener and sustainable future for Adamawa state.
Earlier in his welcome address, the chairman of Girei. Judah Amisa appreciated the governor for this effort of protecting the environment for the development of the state.
The chairman called on the people of the local government to take ownership of the project and ensure that trees are planted across the local government areas and the state at large.
In his goodwill message, the district head Of Girei , who is also the ubandoma Adamawa, Doctor Ahmed Ibrahim Mustafa, thanked the state government and its partners for their efforts and prayed for the sustainability of the project and called on the people to support the government in its quest to restore the environment.
The development objective of the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project for Nigeria is to increase the implementation of sustainable landscape management practices in targeted watersheds in northern Nigeria and strengthen Nigeria’s long-term enabling environment for integrated climate-resilient landscape management.
The project comprises of four components which are dryland management, community climate resilience, institutional strengthening and project management and contingent emergency response (CERC).
