…..embraces tree planting, waste management
Following the threat of climate change in Urshalima, Filiya, Shongom Local Government Area of Gombe State community members have taken ownership to combat encroachment by establishing orchard.
A 14-year-old Grace Garba, who narrated how her family was rendered homeless due to windstorm lauded her community for tackling climate change collectively.
The young student of Government Day Comprehensive Secondary School told PERISCOPE NIGERIA that she has learnt the importance of planting trees due to her bitter experience, urging everyone to work assidiously in mitigating the effect of global warming.
“Before I don’t know the importance of planting trees in my neighbourhood but now I have known. I know that trees will help to prevent windstorm from causing havoc. I remember how our roof was blown out as there were no wind breakers. It happened in 2021, the weather just changed we were in one of our rooms we had to move. I wept that day,” Garba said.
The young climate change advocate said she hopes to ensure that justice is meted to poor and vulnerable, adding “I wish to become a lawyer to fight injustice and ensure perpetrators get what they deserve especially those who fell trees indiscriminately. I hope to better advocate on the importance of planting trees. I’m happy that my community has taken up the challenge towards securing property and lives.”
PERISCOPE NIGERIA reports that 2024 World Environment Day focuses on land restoration, stopping desertification and building drought resilience
Also speaking, Chairman Urshalima Water, Sanitation and Hygiene committee, Nikano Edward, explained that the plan was to ensure that the community is filled with trees in 10 years harping the importance of economic trees.
He said, “In five to ten years time, if you come back to this community, you will find economic trees. There will be continuous tree planting; we have prepared the seed beds there will be continuous tree planting.”
Edward stated that the community which is predominantly agrarian had suffered over the years the effect of climate change, “Rainfall can’t be predicted accurately again, and when it rains it floods our farmlands. We deliberately chose to involve the young ones for sustainability,” he added.
On her part, Communications and Mobilisation Officer of Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, Gurbor Madaki, promised that borehole would be provided for the community to support their effort hinged on protecting ozone layer.
She said, “RUWASA is in support of their contribution. We have also given the contract of providing water here for the watering of the plants. We want to encourage the residents because it’s impressive to see their effort in fighting to ensure environmental restoration.”
Reacting on Urshalima Community’s effort, United Nations Children’s Fund waste consultant, Bala Adams, explained that the initiative is a sequel to the community’s decision to stop open defecation which has caused other environmental issues.
He said, “After triggering, the community has claimed Open Defecation Free status; meaning there is no single faeces in the community, they now have latrine in their households. We built the community’s consciousness on climate change issue, we have lost alot of trees in this community. The community decided to embark on tree planting, after deliberating with RUWASA, LGA.”
Adams said in an attempt to help the community manage their waste, they were taught on how to use it to produce organic manure for the trees, “Every waste from their household is a potential manure for growing every kind of crop. So they agreed to establish this orchard. UNICEF provided the technical requirements on how to manage waste to produce organic manure,” he added.
