Tackling Climate Change Through Tree Planting

Climate experts believe that human-induced global deforestation is responsible for between 18 and 25 percent of global climate change. The United Nations, World Bank and other leading non-governmental organisations are, therefore, encouraging re-forestation and other projects that encourage tree planting and mitigate the effects of climate change.
Trees have been scientifically proven to be very useful as first line of defence in the fight against global warming as they absorb the carbondioxide in the atmosphere, replenish the air with oxygen and also contribute immensely to the aesthetics of the environment.They also check erosion and stem the tide of wind storm by serving as wind breaker.
Trees are brilliant cleansers. They remove other pollutants through the stomata in the leaf surface. It is considered that trees act as carbon sink, storing the gas in its branches, trunk, leaves etc, instead of leaving the gas to become free floating and further polluting the atmosphere.
With this natural function alone, trees directly reduce the growth of the green house effect and neutralise global warming.
Trees also serve as air quality enhancer, and a much needed one at that. They provide natural habitats for many creatures and reduce the temperature by providing shade.
In all, a tree is not just a beautiful creature standing amongst the many phenomenal pictural es que settings of this world, it is a powerful and vital tool that directly ensures our survival.
In Nigeria, we don’t anticipate or prepare for problem or disaster, but wait for problem before taking action despite our poor infrastructural development.
While it is possible to blame government for pathetic health facilities, pitiable educational condition and poor infrastructure, climate change challenge is a collective responsibility we must all tackle together. Tackling it must therefore, involve every segment of the society. But the initiative to start and mobilise other stakeholders is that of a responsive and responsible government.
It is in the light of this that one would plead with the Rivers State Government to consider planting of trees as one of its major priorities in the State. Just like the State government is proactive with social infrastructures and internally generated revenue as evident in its ability to pay wages to its workers promptly, it is expected that it approaches the climate change phenomenon with all seriousness it deserves.
There is no doubt that the Nyesom Wike administration is unrelenting in redeeming its promise to restore not just the State capital, Port Harcourt, but the entire State to its original proud status, but it should complement its efforts by making Rivers a state to behold.
I remember that on September 2, 2008, over 200,000 trees were planted state-wide. On that event, the former administration set a mark of planting half a million trees in four years and declared July 14 of every year as commemorative day for tree planting exercise.
Gladly, by the first anniversary in July 2009, the State government had recorded huge success in planting of trees. Unfortunately, this laudable vision was later abandoned even before the end of that administration. Since, then, the climate in the State has not remained the same.
Given the unfriendly weather we currently experience in the State, in addition to the black soot menace, it is imperative that the State government gives tree planting the necessary attention. The government can achieve this by partnering with private organisations like banks and oil firms to achieve the vision while also encouraging individuals resident in the State to plant trees around their houses.
In 2009, the State government conducted a tree tagging, enumeration and identification exercise, which included trees in Port Harcourt. At the end of the exercise, 4,000 trees were counted in three zones and they were tagged with botanical and local names as well as usefulness which include aesthetics and medicinal purposes.
The exercise should be revisited and extended to cover the entire State. This will assist in determining areas that require replenishment and how many of such trees should be planted to stem degradation.
Since every tree makes a difference, every person that plants a tree also makes a difference. For us to achieve the friendly environment that we desire, individuals, corporate organisations, religious bodies and all well-meaning Nigerians must key into the tree planting project.
Considering the simple nature of tree planting as well as its numerous advantages, tree planting is a good culture everybody should embrace and the time to do so is now.
Jonathan writes from Port Harcourt.

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