Nigeria has depleted 96 percent of its forest cover due to the deforestation, as indicated by the Nigeria conservation foundation (NCF), currently the country only retains four percent of its original forest area.
Zamfara state is one of the frontline states directly affected by deforestation, and residents of Tsafe local Government, situated eleven kilometre from Gusau the state capital are confronted with the effects deforestation in their daily lives.
Sabiu Hassan in this report examines the effect of the Zamfara state government’s Make Zamfara Green and Let’s Fight Deforestation Together campaigns in Yandoto, Yankuzo, Yanware and Bayan Banki communities in Tsafe local government area of the state.
Forests play an essential role in influencing local climate conditions such as temperature and humidity, which when altered can affect crop growth and create less conducive conditions for agricultural and other human activities.
For instance, trees are indispensable for soil stabilization and felling of trees can result in heightening soil erosion and diminishing the quality of land and fertility consequently impeding crop growth.
In addition to deforestation, many of the affected communities mentioned above especially Bayan Banki routinely engaged in illicit felling of trees around their settlement leading to significant repercussions for their environment.
District head of Yankuzo kogo Alhaji Hamza Babangida Abdullah while agreeing with this assertion, described the art of tree cutting as worry some adding that it has a negative impact as his community is currently battling erosion as a result of loss of forest cover.
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One of the adverse effects of deforestation which has detrimental effects on public health, is the fact that it eliminates a crucial source of clean air and released stored carbon, that causes worsened air quality and poor air quality has a severe implication on human health.
The world health organization has revealed that approximately 4.2 million individual perish annually due to outdoor air pollution.
Having suffered these devasting effects for a while, district heads of the affected communities came together to chart a way forward.
This is the situation the District head of Yandoton Daji Marafa Alhaji Mahe Garba said his community is currently facing.
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As for the district head of Yanware Alhaji Sani A Aliyu he said his domain has experienced many of the challenges bought by the felling of trees cutting.
The affected communities subsequently came together to fashion out ways to mitigate the effects of deforestation on their and also draw the attention of government to the challenges the situation has exposed them to.
They did this through collaboration with media outlets for regular discussion regarding the situation and possible solution.
Relief came the way of the residents as government responded to the appeals from district leaders in the communities.
The intervention by government came by way of a pilot programm to restore the Bayan Banki which was severely affected to its green state as well as the setting up of a committee through the ministry of environment to assess the extent of deforestation in affected areas.
Three months later the committee summited its report, and recommendations included utilizing media channels to enlighten rural and urban communities on the dangers of deforestation among others.
Commissioner Zamfara State Ministry Of Environment, Alhaji Mahmood Muhammad Dantawasa said the media campaign tagged Make Zamfara Green, and Lets Fight Deforestation Together which had the sole aim of enlighting communities on the negative effects of illegal felling of trees was necessary in order for communities to take ownership of government interventions in order to ensure sustainability.
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Alhaji Mahmood Dantawasa said it was after this campaign that government flagged off the Plant one million trees to combat deforestation was flagged off in 2021.
According to the commissioner over 500 trees have so far been planted in the affected communities.
Some residents of the affected communities who had been bearing the brunt expressed satisfaction that the campaign has been helpful.
Aliyu Umar from Yandoton Daji said they were happy with the decision taken because all their livelihood depends on it.
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Abdulaziz Salisu from Yankuzo said they were satisfied because the soil erosion has been reduced
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Malam Audu from Yanware said they are experiencing a positive change in their lives because they are now cultivating their farms without any problem and their yield is better.
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As for Malama Lami from Bayan Banki while their lives was endangered due to erosion experienced at their farms they are now experiencing some relief, she however urged government not to abandon the project.
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The Commissioner listed the major challenge the Ministry encountered while implementing the project to be security. He explained that the challenge of insecurity if tackled will enable the ministry to reach more communities because it is difficult to access some of the areas which are worse hit by insecurity.
District head of Yandoton Daji Alhaji Mahe Garba Marafa noted that while the effort by government should be applauded, the challenge of deforestation is such a huge one and as such government should not slack but should maintain the tempo, or risk falling behind.
He also said, government alone cannot address the challenge and called on Non-Governmental Organization and other stakeholders to join hands with government in fighting the menace.
*This story was produced by Gold City F M 105.5 in partnership with Nigeria Health Watch through the Solutions Journalism Network.*