Stakeholders donate trees to mitigate impacts of climate change
By Abigael Joshua
Stakeholders in the Environment sector on Saturday donated 120 trees to mitigate climate change impacts in Gasaki community of Nasarawa State.
Gee Foundation a Non- Governmental Organisation (NGO) on Social Justice and Development, made the donation of trees during a one-day sensitisation.
The NGO made the donation in collaboration with the Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP) and the French Embassy in Nigeria,
The sensitisation is themed, “Addressing Land Degradation and Enhancing Climate Resilience for improved Women’s livelihood”.
Dr Michael David, Executive-Director GIFSEP, urged the community to always plant trees to replace felling trees and tasked them on climate change adaptation.
He appealed to them on the indiscriminate felling of trees to prevent the recent landslide experienced in the area.
The executive director stated that it was of great essence and benefits to preserve the land from degradation because their livelihoods depended on it.
According to David, planting of trees prevents erosion, flooding, landslides and thereby mitigates the impact of climate change in an area.
Mrs Gloria Agema, Executive- Director Gee Foundation, said the sensitisation against all the climate change activities that impacts on communities negatively, especially on women wouldn’t have been possible without the supports of funds from the French Embassy.
Agema, who expressed concern that only one borehole, served four communities, promised that they would intervene by providing the community with more boreholes to follow up with the tree plantings.
Responding, Chief Zaki Tanko of Gasaki (Gasaki of Jeje), expressed satisfaction over the gestures and efforts made by the stakeholders to mitigate the impacts of climate change in the area.
He assured that there would be reduction in the felling of trees and appealed for more construction of boreholes to address water scarcity in the area.
One of the beneficiaries in the community, Jummai Abubakar, commended the stakeholders and promised to nurture her tree.
“We are grateful for this assistance, no one has come to our aid in this manner, indeed we have seen light in our community,” she said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that each participant of the workshop went home with a tree to plant and nurture.
NAN also reports that the event highlighted the planting of some economic trees, such as palm, orange, mango trees as well as cultural display by the people of the community. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Abiemwense Moru