The Society for the Promotion of People’s Right, an NGO, says it plans to plant over 1,000 trees in some government schools and communities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Mr Williams Osaze, National President of the NGO, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday.
Osaze said that the organisation would also embark on massive campaign on the importance of tree planting and impact of climate change in the FCT.
He said that the organisation had engaged in tree planting in government schools and some communities in 2016 and early 2020, adding that the exercise stopped since the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic started in the country.
”But we want to fully start the exercise again. This time around, we will involve both the government and private schools in the FCT, as soon as the schools resume in September.
”Our organisation had engaged in tree planting in Kuje, Bwarri, Abaji, even Karshi communities and some government schools in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).
”We are going to start with some communities such as Nyanya, Karu, Garki Lugbue, including schools.
”We want to start writing to the heads of the communities and the schools we have selected, informing them about our plan.
”We must know that trees are important to human existence, as they provide food, shelter, remedy for all ill health and source of energy,” he said.
According to him, the continuous exploitation and destruction of the country’s natural resources has left citizens with dire consequences such as global warming, ocean and sea level rise and extinction of exotic flora and fauna.
”It is also important to embark on tree planting to enable awakening of the consciousness of the people to reclaim the lost land mass from erosion.
”Trees help to combat global warming by absorbing carbon dioxide, removing and storing carbon, while releasing oxygen back into the air.
”Tree planting reduces wind speeds and cools the air as they lose moisture and reflect heat upwards from their leaves,’’ he said.
Osaze said that it was estimated that trees could reduce the temperature in an environment by up to 7°C, adding that indiscriminate cutting of trees led to massive deforestation and land degradation.
He urged Nigerians, relevant stakeholders and government agencies to engage on tree planting sensitisation, as such effort would protect the environment and promote healthy living.
The national president also advised that a strategic plan should be provided to ensure that every building planted at least two trees yearly, to achieve aesthetic beauty in the FCT.
