The Government of Anambra State has kicked off planting of trees of not less than three million on all developed road networks in the state.

The state Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, commenced the ceremony with the flag-off of the 2019 Tree Planting Campaigns organized by Forestry Department, Ministry of Environment, Awka.

Speaking at the event, Governor Obiano, who was represented by the Head of Service, Barr Harry Udu, urged Anambra people to join in the fight against erosion, noting that the greater part of the state is erosion-prone.

He explained that “it is only through tree planting that the state can ensure that we have some lands still left for generations yet unborn.

“The essence of the exercise is also to ensure stability of the soil because roots of trees help to hold the soil together.”

While harping on the need for trees to be preserved, Obiano called on those who cut down trees for erection of buildings to ensure they have replacements.

He commended the Ministry of Environment for the positive effect of the ongoing campaign on ‘Keep Anambra State Clean’.

The Governor further enjoined the ministry to intensify the tree planting exercise even as he noted that it will serve as the second arm of ‘Keep Anambra State Clean’.

On his part, the Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Obi Nwankwo, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Emmanuel Okafor, appealed to all Local Government Areas, Churches, Schools and individuals to create awareness campaigns to help to combat erosion.

He called on all LGA especially in erosion-prone areas of the state to organise tree planting to accelerate establishment of wooden logs for effective protection of the environment.

The Zonal Coordinator, Forestry Association of Nigeria (FAN), Prof. Anthony Chukwueloka Ibe, mentioned some of the grasses, shrubs known as bio remediation to be planted to help curb erosion menace.

Also speaking, the state Director Forestry/Wildlife Department, Mr. Vincent Okakpu, said that the cause of global warming was a result of harmful emissions that goes up to the cloud.

He stressed that trees were meant to trap those harmful emissions to thrive, while oxygen produced by trees would be inhaled by humans.

Okakpu observed that there was need to encourage practice of Agro-forestry, where farm crops would be planted in between trees and cautioned against deforestation.