The Yobe State Governor has distributed three million tree seedling to fight desertification and other environmental hazards. The distributed seedlings to stakeholders in the last two years, comprise assorted species of economic trees to establish plantations across the state. While announcing renewed fight against desertification Thursday in Damaturu, the Director in the Ministry of Environment for Planning, Research and Statistics, Hassan Musa disclosed that; “We’ve established 1,300 hectres of Gum Arabic plantation in three senatorial districts.” Yesterday’s ministerial briefings tagged: “Promoting Accountability and Good Governance,” was to showcase the performances of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to mark second anniversary of the Mai Mala Buni administration. According to him, in each of the three senatorial districts, hundred hectres of plantation were established to check further spread of desertification. He said that as desertification moves southwards at 600 metres per annum, it affected north part of state, comprising eight Local Government Areas. While speaking on National World Desertification Day, he said: “The Ministry was able to host the Desertification Day at Sabon Garin Idi Barde of Nangere council area. “These plantations are backed up with all the sustainability requirements, including perimeter fencing, boreholes and labour to manage them. He noted that the Ministry was able to re-survey and re-demarcate the Dusuwa forest reserve to check encroachment. On massive tree planting campaigns, he said: “We’ve revamped the tradition of tree planting which was abandoned long time ago. “This was aimed at encouraging the public on the massive planting of trees to check desert encroachment and other environmental hazards.
