Bauchi forestry and environment experts have made submissions to the Bauchi State House of Assembly Committee on Forestry and Environment during its second public hearing session on the bill seeking to establish tree planting law in the state.
Hon. Musa Wakili Nakwada, Chairman, House Committee on Forestry and Environment commended the Bauchi forestry and environment professionals who took their time and energy to make valuable recommendations to enrich the proposed tree planting bill.
Summary of the Assembly’s plenary signed by Abdul Bura, spokesperson to Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abubakar Y Sulaiman and made available to WikkiTimes on Tuesday quoted Hon. Nakawada as saying that, “professionals in forestry and environment trooped out enemas and put their heads together to enrich the bill.”
Hon. Nakwada said if passed and assented to by the governor, the bill is capable of changing the face Bauchi State considering the provisions of the bill for actualisation of sustainable environment.
He cited poor management and implementation as problems when it comes to exploring the potentials of good policies because they jeopardize huge investment in Yankari game Reserve and Sumu Wildlife Park.
He contended that the bill will explore available potentials from local nurseries to grow the needed trees to be planted rather than going to London or Lagos to import trees for onward planting in the state.
Dr. Abdullahi Chinade of Savanah Institute of Sustainable Development suggested that the name of the Bill should be Bauchi State Tree Planting and Enhancement of Environment Bill 2020.
Dr. Chinade further advised that purpose of the bill ought to be “to develop a synergy between governments, communities, individuals and corporate entities for an enhanced sustainable environment, to leverage social, economic and environmental benefits from the enhancement of forests and trees for the people of Bauchi State, to encourage the people of Bauchi State to plant and nurture trees, among other recommendations.
“The Bauchi State Tree Trust Fund provided for by the Bill should be changed to Carbon Fund,” he emphasised.
Nasiru Umar, another representative of the Savanah Institute of Sustainable Development decried that bureaucracy complex, overlapping and duplicate of responsibilities, personal interests of corrupt public servants tenable in government if not properly handled, has the capacity to truncate implementation of the bill.
On her part, Sadiya Karamba, Coordinator Bauchi State Climate Action Change, submitted that the bill should prohibit all forms of animals roaming the street to help communities to plant and raise trees successfully.
At the end of the hearing, the committee selected members of the Secretariat that will finalize everything on the Bill before presenting it for third reading and subsequent passage into law.
