The Bauchi State Environmental Protection Agency (BASEPA) in collaboration with Rahama Community planted trees in order to combat the harsh weather, desert encroachment, global warming and desertification in the state.
Community-Based Tree Planting is one of the new model plantation strategies developed by the agency to induce a sense of ownership in the communities and the individuals to plant more trees and give them proper care by watering the plants morning and evening to the maturity level.
The efforts of the community were commended on Saturday after the monthly sanitation exercise.
The Director General of BASEPA, Dr. Mahmud Mohammed Bose, represented by the Director of Inspection Enforcement and Compliance, Alh. Muhammad Usman Saleh, urged the people of the community to engage themselves in tree planting, stating that apart from environmental, social and economic benefits, “religiously it is an act of charity which is rewarded by Almighty Allah, and to plant more trees in their compounds and vicinities.”
The DG also reiterated the stance of the Bauchi State Government under the leadership of Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed on the signing of an executive order against tree fellers and illegal miners.
He said that the punishment is enshrined that anyone caught will be tried in the environmental mobile court and will be punished with a fine of N1,000,000 and three years imprisonment.
The two community leaders, Mal. Ayuba Abdulmumini of Tudun Salmanu B and Alh. Ibrahim Jumba of Jumba Quarters, including the Chairman of the Rahama community, Alh Hasoor Mahmud, appreciated the agency for providing support to their community.
They also called on the community members to take responsibility for maintaining the planted trees.