An NGO, Mercy Corps, has distributed about 1,400 tree seedlings to communities in Katsina State to bolster the fight against desertification and mitigate climate change.
Mr Paul Mafulol, an Officer in charge of Natural Resources Management, handed over the seedlings to some of the communities on Wednesday in Batsari.
The officer revealed that the communities were in Batsari, Danmusa, Jibia and Kankara Local Government Areas of the state.
He said that the communities had requested for the tree seedlings during the World Wildlife Day and World Environment Day celebrations recently in Katsina.
“Today, we are in Batsari to sensitise the community stakeholders on the process of planting and maturing the tree seedlings.
“We will also discuss the benefits of tree planting in combating climate change,” he said.
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The corps is implementing a project, “Conflict Mitigation and Community Reconciliation in Northwest Nigeria (CMCR-NW)”.
The project is being implemented in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD).
In his remarks, the Director, Waste Management and Environmental Assessment, Katsina State Ministry of Environment, Alhaji Nura Abubakar, stressed the importance of planting a tree in the society.
He said that trees were of great importance to human beings because they give oxygen which is necessary for survival.
According to him, trees also assist to reduce desertification, soil erosion, mitigate climate change and other environment related-challenges.
The director urged the residents to intensify efforts in planting trees in their respective communities.
Also speaking, the Assistant Director, Forestry, Alhaji Muhammad Nasir, observed that planting of trees reduces conflict between farmers and herders.
