World Desertification Day: Gombe acquires 4 hectares of land for tree plantation

Gov. Ibrahim Dankwabo of Gombe State on Wednesday said his government had acquired four hectares of land for a tree plantation to commemorate the 2017 World desertification day.

Dankwabo stated this in Bojude village in Kwami Local Government Area of Gombe at an event to mark THE 2017 World Desertification day.

“In commemoration of this year’s World desertification day, two hectares of Woodlot, two hectares of Orchids would be planted here in Bojude.

“The general public will also be sensitised on the need to plant trees as a way of mitigating desertification,” he said.

Dankwambo said that following the global attention on achieving sustainable development through natural resources, his administration created a Ministry of Environment and Forest Resources.

According to him, the ministry is to design, implement and coordinate environmental policies and programme to confront the challenges facing the state.

In her remarks, Hajiya Sa’adatu Mustapha, Commissioner for Environment and Forest Resources, said the fight against desertification was a collective responsibility.

She said that all hands must be on deck to ensure that ecological balance was maintained through planting and nurturing of trees.

Alhaji Ibrahim Jibril, Minister of State for Environment, urged stakeholders to help achieve land degradation neutrality as part of a border effort to achieve the SDGs and build a future of dignity and opportunity for all.

“The World day to combat desertification provides a unique occasion to remind all people that desertification and land degradation can be effectively tackled,” he said.

Jubril said that Desertification, Land Degradation and Draught (DLDD) negatively affect water resources, drives deforestation, food security and contribute to environmentally induced migration.

“DLDD is therefore among the most critical challenges because they undermine government efforts in poverty eradication, fighting unemployment and enhancement of economic opportunities, especially in rural communities” he said.

(Source: NAN)

from The Sun News http://ift.tt/2vt98oY
via IFTTT