Climate Change: FCTA Plants Over 20,000 Trees

…Asks Residents To Obtain Permission Before Felling Trees

By: Wisdom Acka

To mitigate the adverse effects of Climate Change and maintain environmental ecosystem, authorities of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) have commenced planting of more than 20,000 trees in parts of Abuja.

Director, FCTA Department of Parks and Recreation, Isaiah Ekan Ukpanah, who disclosed this during flagg-off of the exercise in Wuye District of the Federal Capital City, Wednesday, said the exercise, which was a continues one, would be extended to Katampe and other Districts.

According to him, the exercise would replace trees that were lost in those areas due to human activities and developmental strides, as well as maintain serenity of the environment.

Warning residents against indiscriminate felling of trees, Ukpanah stated that tree planting was a responsibility of everyone, not only governments, even as he explained that there were regulations guiding felling of trees and “people must seek and obtained necessary permission before cutting down trees in Abuja”.

He noted the need for massive awareness campaign on the importance of trees in the environment; adding that his department was working with some non-governmental organisations to plant more trees, especially fruit trees, in the FCT.

On of the partners, Dr Aliyu Ahmed, Chairman, ZFH, a charity foundation working on environment and ecosystem mediation, expressed concern that Abuja’s ecosystem was being eroded and abused.

Ahmed said that his NGO has almost concluded arrangements with the Department of Parks and Recreation to plant fruit trees in major parks and gardens in Abuja, “So that when people are hungry, they will get some and eat for free.”