ONUESOKE TO GOVERNORS; MAKE AFFORESTATION BUDGET A PRIORITY
"The frequent natural disasters experienced in some parts of the country can be traced to climate change, which has been aggravated by the increased emission of greenhouse gases and loss of forest cover due to deforestation".... Onuesoke.
A prominent and very consistent chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Delta State Chief Sunny Onuesoke has advised governors in Nigeria to make afforestation budget,a priority.
Onuesoke, a former gubernatorial aspirant in delta state gave this counsel in Lagos at an event on the effect of deforestation in Nigeria."The frequent natural disasters experienced in some parts of the country can be traced to climate change, which has been aggravated by the increased emission of greenhouse gases and loss of forest cover due to deforestation", he stated.
Chief Onuesoke lamented that, "the removal of trees without sufficient reforestation, has resulted in damage to habitat, biodiversity loss and aridity with adverse impacts on bio-sequestration of atmospheric carbon dioxide in different parts of the country".
The PDP chieftain noted that although the federal government has increased afforestation and reforestation efforts under various projects and programmes to augment natural regeneration processes, but the rate of afforestation is not commensurate with the rate of deforestation which consequently calls for the various state governors assistance.
While calling for the review of forestry policy of 2006, he advised that national forest management plan, with clear objectives for conservation, utilization and sustainable management should be developed, adding that from this, the states forestry department can develop their own site specific forest management plan taking into account the three aspects of sustainable development of social, economic and culture.
Describing afforestation as planting of trees manually in a methodical and planned manner which is different to natural forest to replace the depletion of forest, Onuesoke said it has a lot of advantages which include, “increase greenery, avoidance of desertification, aiding of farming, increase of water resources, reduces of air pollution, aid in minimizing global warming and increases of content in oxygen in environment”.
Beside the aforementioned importance of afforestation, the chieftain further added that it equally provides wood in future for furniture, provides food to tribals, it assist in improvement of biotic and abiotic components, reduce soil erosion and assists sustainability of flora and founa among others.
Chief Onuesoke lamented that, "the removal of trees without sufficient reforestation, has resulted in damage to habitat, biodiversity loss and aridity with adverse impacts on bio-sequestration of atmospheric carbon dioxide in different parts of the country".
The PDP chieftain noted that although the federal government has increased afforestation and reforestation efforts under various projects and programmes to augment natural regeneration processes, but the rate of afforestation is not commensurate with the rate of deforestation which consequently calls for the various state governors assistance.
While calling for the review of forestry policy of 2006, he advised that national forest management plan, with clear objectives for conservation, utilization and sustainable management should be developed, adding that from this, the states forestry department can develop their own site specific forest management plan taking into account the three aspects of sustainable development of social, economic and culture.
Describing afforestation as planting of trees manually in a methodical and planned manner which is different to natural forest to replace the depletion of forest, Onuesoke said it has a lot of advantages which include, “increase greenery, avoidance of desertification, aiding of farming, increase of water resources, reduces of air pollution, aid in minimizing global warming and increases of content in oxygen in environment”.
Beside the aforementioned importance of afforestation, the chieftain further added that it equally provides wood in future for furniture, provides food to tribals, it assist in improvement of biotic and abiotic components, reduce soil erosion and assists sustainability of flora and founa among others.
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