Cutting Down Trees Is Bias Against Nature

By: DAHIRU DANDARE.

A climate change activist from Sokoto State recently bagged a spot as a fellow of the pioneer cohort of the African Climate Stories Fellowship which is proudly supported by the Urban Movement Innovation Fund. 
The Climate Change Activist, Mr. Dandare  hails from Sifawa District of Bodinga, and in Bodinga lies the Dabagi Forest which in recent years is experiencing rapid desert encroachment.
The African Climate Stories Fellowship which aims to enable the co-creation of Climate Change Awareness stories between Artists and Activists equips Dahiru to go into Dabagi, as he takes an investigative approach to find out why his neighbouring community is experiencing desertification.
Visiting Dabagi Forest of Dabagi Community under Kimba Ward in Bodinga Local Government Council of Sokoto State Nigeria; he discovers the firewood vendors whose major source of livelihood lies in cutting down the trees in Dabagi Forest and selling them. 
According to them, below are the reasons why they are cutting down trees: For income generation, cooking of food and use for local building. During the interview with the village head of Dabagi Community, Alhaji Bello Wakili, stated that at about one hundred and fifty thousand inhabitats are using firewoods to cook food daily, so every year, about fifty four thousand (54000) trees are cut down for different purposes. 
The activist in his effort to enlighten the Community on the negative effects of cutting down trees, made efforts to communicate the harmful effects of this practice which are affecting the community like; Soil Erosion, Fewer Crop yield, Flooding and Desertification.
Through his visits and sensitization, he explains to them in local terms how trees consume and store carbon dioxide. So if forests are cleared or even disturbed it causes harm and depletion of the ozone layer. Forest loss and damage caused around 10%  of Global Warming. There's simply no way  we can fight the Climate crisis if we don't stop deforestation.
The activist on the other hand, comes up with the suggested solutions to deter the firewood vendors from cutting down trees and hopes to engage with the Local: Government and involve other stakeholders participation and the media in creating awareness on this issue so as to save his community.
In the midst of the fears however, the activist, made known to them that trees provide life support system, play vital role in economic and social lives, a Global Climate regulation for local air quality and rainfall patterns.
As he embarks on this journey to spread awareness, both he and the community has agreed that it will not be an easy ride. But they're willing to find a long term solution for the environmental sustainability of their community and look forward to embracing win-win solutions for both them and  their environment.