Climate Change: Expert Warns Bauchi Communities Of Health Risks Due To Deforestation

Bauchi State– Habiba Ajufoh, the Executive Director of Community Advocates for Rural Development (CARD), has issued a stern warning to rural dwellers, urging them to cease the practice of indiscriminate tree felling.

Ajufoh issued the warning on Wednesday during a visit to Takwashinge community in the Dass Local Government Area of Bauchi State. The purpose of her visit was to raise awareness and advocate against deforestation, emphasizing its role in contributing to climate change and the imminent threats it poses to both health and the environment.

She stated that 20 women were empowered with clean energy businesses, receiving solar products to distribute in their community, thereby both earning income and contributing to climate change mitigation efforts. Ajufoh urged Nigerians to explore alternative energy sources rather than practices that jeopardize their health and the ecosystem.

Speaking on the detrimental impacts of tree felling, she emphasised the necessity for sustainable energy practices. Instead of relying on conventional methods like batteries or firewood, she advocated for utilising solar products and briquettes derived from agricultural waste.

“The repercussions of rampant tree cutting are profound. Trees serve as crucial carbon dioxide absorbers, essential for human health through oxygen production. By depleting these trees, we diminish our access to clean air, expelling harmful carbon dioxide into the environment,” Ajufoh explained.

She explained that the cascading effects of tree depletion, causing soil degradation, erosion, and heightened vulnerability to floods. Ajufoh said the soil’s declining fertility due to discarded batteries, plastics, and waste, necessitating costly fertilizers for agricultural productivity—a burden particularly challenging for the average citizen.

“While we acknowledge the indispensable use of firewood for cooking energy, our plea is for conscious reduction. We advocate a ‘plant two for one cut’ approach, encouraging the plantation of new trees alongside any felled.

“Additionally, we’re promoting the production and use of briquettes as a sustainable alternative to firewood.”