A Non-Governmental Organisation, in Gombe state, Centre for Environmental Impact and Ethics (CEIE) has cautioned members of the public over indiscriminate cutting down of trees.
The Director General of CEIE, Alhaji Usman Abubakar, stated this in Gombe during a one day meeting of all environment based NGOs in the state.
He said the current heat wave being experience in the state and other northern part of the country was as a result of lack of adequate trees which were cut down without being replaced.
He stated that people should imbibe the culture of planting trees to protect the environment from desertification and flooding.
Abubakar further stressed the need for all the NGOs working in the area of environment to form a single body so as to speak with one voice and properly chart a course to protect the environment.
“We need to have synergy among all environmental partners and work together to achieve better environment for all. As such, there is need to come together to tackle the issue of deforestation, create awareness campaign on ‘cut a tree, plant a tree’ to help us protect the trees and our environment,” he said.
The Director of Forestry at the state Ministry of Environment, Alhaji Sa’ad Muhammad Hashidu, commended the CEIE for coming with the idea of harmonizing all the environmental NGOs.
He pledged that the ministry will support the NGOs to fight desertification and deforestation to ensure a clean, healthy and well ventilated environment.
Hashidu stated that the NGOs should support the ministry in enlighten members of the public, especially those in the rural area on the dangers of cutting down trees without planting another.
