Pulse.ng : Mercy Corps donates tree-seedlings to combat climate change in Katsina

By Abbas Bamalli

A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Mercy Corps has donated about 150 tree seedlings to Daddara community, in Jibia local government area of Kstsina State.

The NGS's Senior Programme Manager in the state, Mr Philip Ikita who presented the seedlings on Thursday at Daddara village, said the aim was to combat climate change and other related challenges.

Mr Ikita was represented by Mr Paul Mafulul, the Mercy Corps’ Natural Resource Management Advisor.

According to him, the exercises were sequel to the request by the communities during the World Wildlife Day and World Environment Day celebrations in Katsina.

“The programme was also aimed to sensitise the community, other stakeholders on the processes of planting and nurturing the tree
seedlings.

“It was also to discuss the benefits of tree planting in combating climate change in their communities, and the state as a whole. This exercise is part of our routine programmes in the state,” he said.

In his remarks, the Director waste management at the state Ministry of Environment, Alhaji Nura Abubakar commended the NGO for such a gesture, saying it will go a long way towards preventing climate change.

According to him, the state government is doing its best in providing necessary measures in preventing the challenges related to climate change through the state.

He expressed the government's commitments towards collaborating with relevant organisations, especially NGOs like Mercy Corps in ensuring a safe environment.

Also, the Commissioner, Water Resources, Mr Muktar Aliyu described the gesture as a welcome development, saying that its importance in addressing desertification and other environmental degradation can not be overemphasised.

He said that Jibia is one of the frontline areas experiencing serious cases of desertification and other environmental challenges in the state, hence the area was chosen for the exercise.

Participants at the senditisation assured to make judicious utilisation of the knowledge acquired to protect their area from desertification and other environmental challenges.

The exercise was through the NGO's Conflict Mitigation and Community Reconciliation in Northwest Nigeria (CMCR) Project, funded by the European Union (EU).

It was organised by Mercy Corps, in collaboration with the Centre for Democracy Development (CDD), and also United Nations Migration (IOM).