By Awyetu Asabe Hope
The Environmental Awareness and Restoration Network has urged Lagos residents, corporate organisations and homeowners to support tree-planting efforts to combat climate change and protect biodiversity.
The group’s representative, Egwu, made the call on Wednesday, in Lagos, while speaking on the need to expand tree-planting efforts across the state.
Egwu said EARN, a non-governmental organisation, was complementing Nigeria’s efforts to ensure that the Global Reforestation Campaign of the Climate Change Conference of Parties benefited the country.
He said wildlife and biodiversity played a vital role in maintaining the balance of nature and must be protected.
Egwu said EARN was partnering with the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment to implement the state’s tree-planting policy.
He said the partnership involved jointly assessing locations, identifying suitable tree species, and nurturing and maintaining the trees for one year.
According to him, once a location was approved by all parties, the NGO would procure and plant the trees.
“Many people still do not understand the importance of tree planting.
“Trees absorb CO2. At least, four trees will remove about 100kg of CO2 from the environment.
“Without more trees in Lekki, Ikeja, Ajegunle and other vulnerable areas, the next heavy rain will mean more houses destroyed and more schools closed.
“We need to be kind to the environment so that the environment will be kind to us,” he said.
He urged corporate organisations, individuals and homeowners to support the tree-planting campaign to restore balance to nature.
Egwu also called on the government to urgently scale up tree planting to absorb carbon dioxide and mitigate rising temperatures, heatwaves, deforestation, famine and diseases.
