By Ben Ngwakwe, Gombe
Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has lamented that since 2019, his administration has made significant strides towards combating deforestation and environmental degradation with partnerships from the World Bank
He noted that initially through the NEWMAP project and now through the ACReSAL project where they have successfully addressed and remedied several severe gully sites in Gombe State, bringing relief to affected communities and safeguarding the livelihoods of the people.
The governor pointed out that through the Gombe Goes Green (3G) project where they planted about 4 million trees in order to mitigate desert encroachment, prevent erosion, and reverse land degradation, adding that it was that their resolve to take climate action through sustainable tree planting over the past five years is borne out of the need to address the visible adverse effects of climate change on the environment, economy, and agriculture.
Speaking at of the 2024 Tree Planting Campaign and presentation of symbolic cheques to the beneficiaries of Community Revolving Fund on Tuesday,in Barge in Funakaye Local Government Area under the Agro- Climatic Resilience in Semi- Arid Landscapes ( ACReSAL) project in the state.
He explained that under the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project that they have already achieved the recovery of about 140 hectares of land through the afforestation campaign, stressing further that it was part of a larger plan to deliver a total of 1,905 hectares of afforestation in 2024.
According to him, “Our efforts include the planting of 1,742,400 seedlings of various types such as mahogany, syzygium, mango, cashew, eucalyptus, and moringa. These initiatives underscore our unwavering commitment to combating deforestation and restoring degraded lands in Gombe State, thus demonstrating our proactive approach to environmental sustainability and climate resilience.”
He noted that climate change has been a major contributor to erosion, drought, and overall land degradation in Gombe State while agriculture, which is the backbone of the economy, is particularly vulnerable to weather and climate variations.
” It heavily depends on land, water, and other natural resources. The impacts of climate change have significantly influenced crop yields, livestock production, and the availability of soil and water resources,” he said.
He congratulated the Community Interest Group members from the two catchment areas of FCE(T) and Bajoga who have met the criteria for selection and disbursement to benefit from the ACReSAL Community Revolving Fund (CRF), adding that the facility is not a grant or a government largess but a loan that must be repaid within the stipulated time to allow others to benefit.
He also commended ACReSAL and all the relevant partners for organising the event and supporting their vision for a greener Gombe State so as to create climate-resilient communities and enhance food security.
“The loan should be used prudently to improve agricultural production, enhance food security, and uplift community welfare. The aim is to create employment opportunities, especially for vulnerable groups such as women, people with special needs, and youths. We will closely monitor the use of these funds to ensure they enhance the capacity of community and farmer groups to practice climate-smart agriculture, promote sustainable agricultural practices, address local conflicts, and foster mutual understanding and peace in our communities”, the Governor said.
” I would like to also commend our people and all other stakeholders for their continuous support in addressing the various challenges facing our dear state. I would like to assure you of my administration’s unwavering commitment to sustainable environment and all-inclusive development.”
