Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State yesterday inaugurated the 4.5 million tree planting exercise to preserve the ecosystem and mitigate effects of climate change in the state.
The exercise is being implemented by the state’s Ministry of Environment in collaboration with the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscape (ACReSAL) project.
Namadi explained that the annual campaign inaugurated in Dutse was one of his administration’s commitments to the people of the state to reinvigorate and expand ongoing environmental development and protection programmes.
He said the event would be sustained with 4.5 million tree seedlings annually for distribution to citizens and the conduct of public sensitisation on tree planting and other initiatives on general environmental protection.
“Indeed, this is in line with our policy objectives aimed at promoting initiatives that are environmentally friendly, support environmental resilience and sustainability, contribute to the health of our planet and support the provision of means of sustainable livelihood for most of the people,” Namadi said.
The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment in tackling environmental challenges facing the state, ranging from devastating perennial floods, degradation of precious lands, deforestation and desertification among others.
“It is our collective responsibility to fight and win the battle against all forms of environmental degradation.
“Our strategic plans for achieving this include mitigating the consequences of environmental management and sustainable means of livelihood for most of our citizens.
“Other aspects include overall governance of the environmental sector, review of environmental laws and policies and pursuit of strategies to achieve the Food and Agriculture Organization’s 20 per cent target green cover before 2030 In Sha Allah,” Namadi said.
