The Nation Newspaper

Tag: tree-planting

  • Rotary takes tree planting to schools

    The Rotary Club of Lagos, under the leadership of its outgoing president, Soboma Ajumogobia, has taken its tree-planting campaign to Dolphin Junior High School on Lagos Island.

    The club, which moved to the school after its weekly fellowship penultimate week, also donated books to the schools as a mark of its commitment towards ensuring that learning takes place under a conducive environment and pupils get the right assistant to do this.

    Ajumogobia, who planted trees in the school, said the aim of the campaign was to save the environment and teach the pupils how to maintain the balance.

    He said: “We are part of global family of Rotary International, which is committed to protecting the environment and maintaining the balance. Tree-planting is one of the major ways of doing this. Trees provide shades and maintain the greenery. They beautify the environment, which is good for learning.

    “This exercise is part of contributing to creating the right environment for learning.”

     

  • LASPARK to begin community tree planting

    The  Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK) is to  begin community tree planting across the 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) of the state. The campaign has “Plant a tree”as its theme.

    At its weekly management meeting, its General Manager, Mrs. Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola said the community tree planting, sensitisation and awareness campaign was in line with the sustainability of the green policy of the state, noting that it has become crucial to continuously reawaken the consciousness of the people to plant trees and combat the negative effects of climate change in their community.

    “The sacred responsibility of preserving nature lies in our hands and nature has been good to us hence, our refusal to reciprocate this kind gesture is ungodly, inhuman and selfish,” she said.

    Mrs Adebiyi-Abiola reiterated that when people continue to cut trees, they kill life, reduce biological diversity and cheat posterity. Therefore, the need to plant trees in our community is germane to healthy living.

    She said the exercise would cut across the state with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), non-governmental organisations (NGOs), students, green compliance organisations, government institutions as well as community development associations (CDAs)/community development committees (CDCs).

    This  year’s programme flagged off at Agbado Oke-Odo LCDA last Saturday , while Epe LGA will host the event on  May 5.

    She said the programme will move to Surulere LGA on May 19. Other venues include Ikosi LCDA,June 3; Amuwo Odofin LCDA, June 17 and Ikeja LGA July 1.

    She restated the government’s commitment to clamp down on perpetrators of illegal tree felling and pruning, stressing that permission should be sought from LASPARK before any tree was cut or pruned.

     

  • Aregbesola, others advocate tree planting

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has advocated overhauling of forest management to save Nigeria and Africa from imminent climate change.

    He said the existence of the black race lied in protecting and maintaining the natural rain forests.

    Aregbesola, who spoke at the African Forest Forum, a West and Central African workshop hosted by the Osun State University in Osogbo, advocated tree planting to save the continent from the negative effect of climate change.

    The participating countries include The Gambia, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Niger, Benin Republic, Chad, Senegal, Kenya, Tanzania, Guinea Bissau, Cameroon, Liberia, Togo, Congo, Burkina Faso, Cote D’Ivoire, Burundi, Rwanda and host, Nigeria.

    Members of the forum with headquarters in Nairobi (Kenya), were on a five-day West and Central African workshop to Osun on the need to advance forestry in Africa.

    Addressing the participants at a dinner, the governor said Africa did not deserve to suffer the bad effect of climate change, had it been the continent’s forest was preserved.

    He attributed the carefree attitude of past leaders to the development, saying it was the cause of the challenges posed by the climate change in Nigeria and Africa.

    Aregbesola expressed displeasure about the way natural rain forests were being managed in Africa, saying: “It is high time we rose to the challenge and developed a modality that will strengthen forest management.”

    He decried the 90 per cent loss of forest resource in Africa, noting that it was a setback that had culminated in the climate change challenges confronting the continent.

    The governor urged leaders to wake up from their slumber by revamping the resources buried in the ‘great lake region’ of Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Zambia and Tanzania.

    The Executive Secretary of the forum, Godwin Kanero, said it had recorded successes in its public enlightenment programmesý organised across the participating countries.

    He said the forum was established about 10 years ago to finding a solution to the environmental challenges occasioned by deforestation.

     

  • EU plants 634,132 trees in Katsina

    EU plants 634,132 trees in Katsina

    The European Union ( EU ) says it planted 634,132 variety of trees in Maiadua Local Government Area of Katsina State to prevent desertification and promote the concept of green house in the last five years.

    Dr Chris Udokang, EU Project Manager, announced this in an interview with our reporter in Maiadua on Tuesday.

    Udokang said 538,994 of the trees, representing 87.3 per cent survived.

    He noted that the project was executed under the EU Fuel Wood Balance Programme ( FUWOBA ) and implemented by the Oxfam and the International Centre for Energy, Environment and Development, in collaboration with the National Planning Commission.

    Udokang added that no fewer than 1,000 farmers were provided with agricultural implements which included fertilisers, insecticides and modernised cooking stove free of charge, to promote farming in the area.

    He urged the people to continue to maintain the trees as well as make judicious use of the farming implements for a better environment and a secured future free from desertification and lack of food.

    The EU FUWOBA projects commenced in October 2014 across some seven selected local government areas in Katsina State to promote agriculture and prevent desertification.

    NAN

  • Ekiti commissioner promotes tree-planting to tackle flooding, storm

    Ekiti State Commissioner for Environment, Chief Bisi Kolawole, has urged the residents to plant trees and stop indiscriminate felling of trees to evade flooding.

    The commissioner spoke yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, while reacting to the havoc the recent rainstorms wreaked on the state.

    Kolawole said indiscriminate felling of trees is harmful to the environment because it could cause flooding.

    The commissioner noted that trees are essential in protecting homes and communities, adding that a minimum of two trees should be planted in place of every tree that has been pull down to protect the environment from rainstorm, flooding and strong wind.

    He noted that besides aesthetics and shade, mature trees stabilise soil and reduce erosion, increase soil fertility, enhance the capability of land to store water, provide wildlife habitat, moderate air and soil temperatures and regulate minerals in the soil.

    According to him, trees improve air quality for healthier breathing by absorbing carbon dioxide and potentially harmful gasses, such as carbon monoxide and sulphur dioxide from the air, while simultaneously releasing oxygen into the atmosphere.

    He reiterated the determination of the state government to also end indiscriminate dumping of refuse and building of structure on waterways.

  • UNIBEN opens tree planting campaign

    Authorities of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) has kicked-off tree planting exercise within the Ugbowo campus of the institution to check natural disaster and add to the aesthetic value of the university.

    It said the exercise was is in line with its commitment to increase students’ appreciation of the green environment as well as achieve their academic goals.

    Speaking at a brief ceremony to mark the exercise at the Faculty of Education, Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Faraday Orumwense, assured that the tree planting exercise would be appreciated by future students.

    Orumwense urged the institution’s Dean of Faculties to ensure the exercise is carried in all their departments.

    “It is a welcome development. It will protect our infrastructure from wind and other natural disasters. The timing is appropriate.

    “I pray that God will nurture the trees to grow and serve the purpose,” he said.

    Dean, Faculty of Education of the University, Prof. Sunday Iyamu who inspired the campaign, said it was hinged on the need to enhance the aesthetics of the institution and protect its.

  • Expert advocates tree planting, others to remedy drought

    An ecologist, Mr. Habib Omotosho, says increased awareness campaign and adoption of land protection, as well as tree planting initiatives will fast-track efforts to deal with drought and desertification.

    Omotosho, who is the national coordinator, Environmental Advancement Initiatives, an NGO, in an interview News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, said:

    “Remedies to drought and desertification problems involve public awareness, protection of marginal lands, planting of indigenous tree and shrub species, sustainable agricultural practices and use of alternative energy sources.’’

    He said increased public awareness of the dangers of drought and desertification at local and national levels was vital in efforts to tackle the environmental challenges of drought and desertification.

    According to him, the organisation of awareness campaigns is probably the cheapest means of combating desertification because it serves as a preventive measure.

    ”People should be made to fully understand the causes and consequences of desertification, to stem the growing menace of desertification.

    ”The public awareness campaigns should also aim at eliciting actions that would deal with some of the consequences of the environmental phenomenon and prevent further degradation of the soil,’’ he said.

  • Lions marks 100 years with tree planting in school

    Lions marks 100 years with tree planting in school

    Dairy Farms Secondary School, Agege, Lagos has become one of the beneficiaries of Lions Club’s 100th anniversary with its tree planting campaign in the school.
    Lions International District 404B 2 Governor, Deacon Taiwo Adewunmi, said the aim of the club’s campaign was to leave a legacy for generations unborn, adding that it was part of its centennial celebration.
    ‘’We are here as part of the centennial campaign to protect our environment and to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Lions’ service to humanity globally. This is one project aimed at protecting our environment,’’ he said.
    President, Ikeja Dynamic Lions Club, Deji Olukokun, whose club sponsored the trees as part of its yearly project, said: ‘’We are a humanitarian organisation. We went into tree planting because not too much attention is paid to tree planting anymore. Instead the trees are being cut down in the name of civilisation. There is, therefore, need to pay attention to this vital part of our society. Let us save the environment.’’
    The school’s Principal Michael Sofolahan, who with his deputy, the school’s Head Prefect John Sotola and others, planted some trees during the event, said the trees when fully grown would, among others, beautify the school premises.
    Sofolahan added: ‘’We want our children to know the importance of tree planting. And to let them know that the trees will supply us oxygen, shade and make the area cool when it is hot.’’
    Sotola thanked Loins for the gesture, promising that the pupils would ensure that the trees were taken care of.

  • Tree planting means to combat global warming – Ambode

    Tree planting means to combat global warming – Ambode

    …Targets 10m trees for Lagos by 2020

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Thursday cautioned residents of the State to desist from indiscriminate and uncontrolled felling of trees, just as he harped on the benefits of tree planting to healthy environment.

    Speaking at the 2016 Annual Tree Planting Day organized by the Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK) at Ikosi Senior Secondary School, Governor Ambode described tree planting as the most reliable and cheapest means of combating the effect of global warming, flooding and climate change, adding that such was the more reason why people must protect the trees and plant more to replace those removed.

    The Governor, who was represented at the event tagged: “Lend a Hand to Save Trees,” by his wife, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode said the importance of tree planting to the society cannot be overemphasized as trees provide oxygen, cool the atmosphere, help conserve energy, save water, prevent erosion, save children from ultra-violet Rays and provide food, among other benefits.

    Governor Ambode said the annual programme on tree planting was a veritable platform for Lagos to meet the target of 10 million trees by 2020, noting that the peculiarity of the State as a coastal city-state makes it prone to several environmental challenges, a situation which demands that the government and the people must carry out infrastructural development without jeopardizing the environment.

    He said: “The fast growing urban development areas across the State must curtail the uncontrolled felling of trees and ensure all developers adhere to all the Town Planning and Greening regulations.

    “We must plant trees to replace those removed from vast acres of land so that we reduce the rate of ocean surge and erosion with its attendant problem of displacement of homes and communities.”

    While alluding to the estimate of scientists that the world needs 30 billion trees annually, Governor Ambode said a world without trees is a world without life, and so as a people, Nigerians must resolve to ensure that trees are not only saved, but efforts must be geared towards planting more trees.

    According to the Governor, “Lagos has become a positive reference point in Nigeria about creating a Green environment. We remain committed to this cause and will vigorously pursue the State Greening Policy of total regeneration of degraded sites as part of our pact with Lagosians. We will do even more.

    “Already, the Security and Light Up Lagos initiatives of our administration are complementing our beautiful city at night and ensuring the parks and gardens that are safe for relational purposes.”

    Besides, Governor Ambode disclosed that work was at advanced stage at the parks being constructed by the State Government in Alimosho and Ikorodu, adding that the projects would soon be completed and opened for public use, promising that government would enforce tree planting along all new roads being constructed, maps well as create more gardens and ensure the upgrade of all open spaces in Lagos.

    The Governor, who said government alone cannot achieve the greening policy, advocated a collective action by all relevant agencies and organizations to achieve the vision of bequeathing a greener and healthier environment to generations yet unborn.

    He also urged the Federal Government to lead the campaign for each of the States of the federation to resolve to plant at least one million trees annually which will translate to 360 million trees across the country by the next decade, saying that such would go a long way to protect the nation.

  • Ogun lists benefits of tree planting

    The Ogun State government has urged residents of the state to plant trees in their immediate environment, saying aside its economic value, tree planting is key to the survival of human race

    The state government promised to support the campaign with 1.5 million seedlings, which would be spread across the nine forest reserves in the state.

    Commissioner for Forestry, Chief Kolawole Lawal, disclosed this shortly after planting some tree seedlings as part of events commemorating the annual Forestry Day tagged ‘Forest and Water.’

    Lawal said this year has been earmarked by the ministry for massive tree planting in the state, adding that the state government has commenced the distribution of tree seedlings across the three senatorial districts of the state.

    He said: “For the government and the people of the state, year 2016 is a tree planting year; that is why we have stepped up the numbers of tree seedlings in our nursery sites from 700,000 to 1.5 million tree seedlings, so that we can have enough for distribution and planting in our forest regeneration exercise.”

    He explained that the distribution and planting exercise were expected to commence around June during the rainy season, urging the people of the state to key into the free tree seedling distribution that would be provided by state government.