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Yobe raises panel on illegal tree felling

By Njadvara Musa, Damaturu
23 April 2018   |   3:00 am
The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Abubakar Aliyu also cautioned traditional rulers against illegal massive felling of trees, which he said has degraded the environment with increased desert encroachment for over two decades.

Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe state

Yobe State Government has raised a panel against the massive felling of trees to address desert encroachment and environmental degradation.

Desert encroachment spreads southwards in the state at 600 metres per annum in the Sahelian region of the country.Governor Ibrahim Gaidam spoke when, when he paid an advocacy visit to Emir of Fika and Chairman, Yobe State Council of Chiefs, Dr. Muhammad Ibn Abali Muhammad Idrissa in Potiskum.

The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Abubakar Aliyu also cautioned traditional rulers against illegal massive felling of trees, which he said has degraded the environment with increased desert encroachment for over two decades.

According to him, the panel was to address problems of environmental degradation and indiscriminate felling of trees.He added that felling of trees has deteriorating effects on the fragile Sahelian environment.

“Members of this panel, comprising 14 monarchs, are to protect our environment and make it conducive for human habitation, agricultural practices and other socioeconomic activities,” he said.The governor further noted that the state is located in semiarid and arid environment with scanty vegetation cover, which gives little protection to the environment.

“In spite of the negative tendency, the environment was not fully protected from human interference and devastation.“This has resulted into increased pressure on land for farming, felling of trees for fuel wood, charcoal production and illegal mining activities in various parts of the state”, he added.

According to him, the volatile environmental situation has accelerated desert encroachment, land degradation and siltation of rivers and streams, including Nguru Wetlands.He said these have devastating effects of promoting poverty and land degradation in 12 Local Government Areas of the state.

He called on local councils, emirates, and community leaders and Stakeholders to expedite action on tree plantings and nurturing to maturity.

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