An ecologist, Mr Abdullahi Aremu, has called for a law that would mandate those who fell trees for firewood and other commercial purposes to replace them by replanting in order to reduce deforestation.
Aremu, who is the Director-General, Advocacy for Environmental and Sanitation Integrity, a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), made this call in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.  ”Observation shows that many people, especially rural women, have resorted into cutting down trees for use as firewood, owing to the high price of kerosene nowadays.
”The National Assembly should enact a legislation to mandate these people to replace trees with the ones they cut for commercial purposes,’’ he said.
He stressed, trees were very important to the ecosystem, as they absorb harmful carbon dioxide and release life-sustaining oxygen into the atmosphere.
Aremu said trees absorb water in large quantities during heavy rains, adding that due to large-scale deforestation, there were fewer trees around to absorb and retain water, hence the rising incident of food and erosion.
”The tree is necessary for rain; it creates cold and humid atmosphere required for the rain. Whenever it rains, trees hold the water and somewhat prevents floods.
”Trees provide food for humans and animals; if we continue to cut down trees indiscriminately, our action will definitely affect our rainfall patterns,” Aremu said.