Aminu Tambuwal, governor of Sokoto state, has banned the practice of felling trees in the state.
According to Imam Imam, his spokesman, the ban was with a view to curbing desert encroachment and land degradation.
He said Tambuwal issued the ban at the flag-off of this year’s tree planting campaign, which was held at Kawadata, Goronyo local government area of the state.
“To mitigate the effect of the new policy on rural dwellers, government will provide modern stoves while encouraging residents to explore other sources of energy like coal,” he quoted the governor as saying.
“Tambuwal also urged residents to cultivate planting of cash trees like gum Arabic and date palm, which he said will not only help in preserving the environment, but will alleviate poverty and tackle unemployment.
“The governor said growing of trees is both an environmental and spiritual obligation, adding that Islam encourages planting of trees for the benefit of communities.”
In his remarks, Garba Muhammed Sarkin-Kudu, permanent secretary in the state ministry of environment, said for this year, a two-kilometre shelter-belt will be established in the three senatorial zones of the state.
He said that in addition, the government’s house-to-house tree planting campaign has been carried in the 400 housing estates across the state to provide shelter and serve as windbreak.
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