World Environment Day: Anambra targets one million trees

Anambra State Government says it will plant no fewer than one million trees to promote aforestation revolution and check environmental degradation currently ravaging the state.

The State Commissioner for Environment, Engr Felix Odimegwu, who disclosed this during a press conference to commemorate this year’s World Environment Day, said the State Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo is expected to flag off the campaign on Sunday, 5th June, 2022.

While describing the theme for this year’s celebration “Only One Earth”as apt, he added under the policy each household is expected to plant at least two trees every year.

“Anambra State is facing serious environmental health degradation, and serious climate change challenges. This is the time to take up the collective and individual responsibility of protecting, restoring our only one earth by avoiding actions leading to environmental pollution and degradation.

“I therefore call on the people to leverage the opportunity offered by the theme to raise their consciousness towards adopting safe environmental management practices and good sanitation that will promote the general wellbeing of all of us” Engr. Odimegwu said.

He added that government would introduce Environmental Marshalls in communities across the state to reinforce sensitization and enforcement of environmental laws to effect healthy living.

The Commissioner noted that the present administration would partner private corporations in the area of waste recycling to create jobs and reduce the burden of waste disposal, even as the monthly sanitation exercise would be strengthened to ensure maximum compliance.

Contributing, the State Coordinator, Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) Micheal Ivenso, stated that an environmental sustainability and control manual had been created to enlighten the public on the need to respect physical planning laws and called on them to take ownership of their environment.

Emmanuel Ukoh