By Sani Idris Abdulrahman

An NGO, Centre for Water and Environment Development (CWED), on Thursday, planted no fewer than 2,000 tree seedlings in three communities in Sabon Gari LGA of Kaduna state.

This, was to promote environmental conservation and combat land degradation.

The initiative, tagged “CWED Green Project 2026: Plant a Tree, Protect the Future,” was carried out in Hayin Dogo, Hayin Danyaro and Bomo communities of Sabon Gari Local Government Area.

The project sought to raise awareness on tree planting, promote environmental stewardship and encourage community participation in addressing climate change, deforestation and soil erosion.

Speaking at the event, CWED Programme Officer, Lydia Saleh, described the green project as an annual community-based environmental campaign.

Saleh said the initiative educated residents on the environmental, social and economic benefits of planting and protecting trees.

She said tree planting remained a practical strategy for reducing deforestation, mitigating climate change, preventing soil erosion and restoring degraded lands.

According to her, the beneficiary communities were already experiencing severe gully erosion that threatened homes and livelihoods.

She urged residents to nurture the planted trees and sustain environmental protection efforts beyond the day’s exercise.

Earlier, Dr. Lemuel Musa, a member, Board of Trustees of CWED, said environmental conservation required collective responsibility from government, organisations and communities.

Musa urged residents to regard every tree planted as an investment in healthier ecosystems, improved livelihoods and a more sustainable future for coming generations.

He stressed that consistent tree planting and proper maintenance would help restore degraded landscapes and improve resilience against climate-related challenges.

The Kaduna State Ministry of Environment advised residents to protect trees as valuable natural assets capable of improving environmental and public health.

The ministry’s Divisional Forest Officer for Zaria and Sabon Gari LGA, Sadi Dahiru, said trees served as windbreaks, reduced erosion and provided clean air, fruits and medicinal benefits.

Dahiru encouraged schools to establish tree planting programmes to instil environmental consciousness and sustainable practices among children.

Also speaking, Aminu Salihu, Manager of Teku Farms, Unguwan Sarki Branch, trained participants on proper tree planting and maintenance techniques.

Salihu said the project distributed 2,000 seedlings comprising 10 species, including mango, orange, soursop, sweet apple, avocado, cashew, rose apple, guava and other economic trees.

He added that apart from producing fruits, the selected tree species possessed medicinal value and contributed significantly to environmental restoration.

The Village Head of Hayin Dogo, Shehu Musa, commended CWED for selecting the communities for the project and pledged residents’ commitment to protecting the seedlings.

Musa said the campaign had increased awareness of environmental conservation and would help reduce erosion while improving the community’s landscape and livelihoods.

He assured the organisation that traditional leaders would mobilise residents to nurture the trees to ensure the project achieved its intended objectives.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that present at the event were; Kaduna Environmental Protection Agency (KEPA), Kaduna State Climate Change Accountability Mechanism (KAD-CAM), traditional and religious leaders, among others.(NAN)