By Suleiman Adamu, Sokoto
SOKOTO State government has resolved to adopt the Native Authority(NA) approach as well as review the laws on forestry reserves and tree plantation, management and control to properly ensure their development for environmental and economic potentials sustainability of the state.
The development is coming as the state Ministry for Environment embarks on planting of dates trees as a pilot scheme in over 20 schools.
The exercise is in collaboration with the state Ministry of Education is expected to yield over 120 kg of dates for the economic benefit of house holds queued in to the scheme.
The disclosures were made in Sokoto during a local radio programme by state Commissioner for Environment , Sagir Dahaltu Bafarawa.
Sagir while highlighting some of his ministry’s activities and successes explained that if the state embrace the old age method of preserving the forests and its plantation potentials, the benefits would be enormous.
He noted that Sokoto state inherited quite a large tree plantations and forestry reserves as evidenced in the documents bequeath the native authority which if studied properly would drive the dream and benefits to the advantage of the state.
According to Bafarawa who also made a disclosure that plans were under way to digitalise the state forestry reserves through studying the documents, knowing their location, maintenance and protection as well ensure proper process of modernising all records for sustainability.
In the same vein, the Commissioner observed that there was the urgent and necessary need to review the laws guiding tree plantations and forestry reserves.
This , he said was to enable control against indiscriminate felling of trees and environmental desertification.
” Doing this will not only sustain the reserves and plantations but save lives and minimise colossal effects of natural disasters likely to affect the environment”, he pointed out.
However, the Commissioner noted with concerns reports on cases of indiscriminate attitude of tree felling and forestry mismanagement even as the state government’s ban on the use of tree cutting machines was still in force.
Sagir Bafarawa added” the banning decision is necessary because some people are making brisk businesses through incessant cutting of trees and forest to produce cooking charcoal and we will not allow that to continue against the survival of our people and for the protection of the environment .”
He warned communities to desist from the illegal practice of cutting of trees and burning of forests and embrace the culture of planting ad nurturing of trees
for environmental protection and beautification as well for the economic benefits of all.
While urging all and sundry especially house holds to embrace the culture of tree planting, the Commissioner noted that posterity would surely vindicate the good deeds and legacy of the government towards environmental free challenges and survival of lives and trees across the state.
Hitherto, Bafarawa also commented on the Mabera Area water and erosion control project, saying it has reached 60% appreciable completion level while noting that the project may exceed the earlier projected time of completion .
” But what I will say is that the projected is being carried out based on standard to ensure that it lasts the test of time for the benefit of residents.
” I am seizing this opportunity to appeal to residents not to be panicked with the current rain fall being experienced in the state .”
