Delta State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Jamani Tommy Ejiro, has called on Deltans to join hands with government in accelerating land restoration, combating desertification and building drought resistant environment.
The call was made as the world is preparing for the celebration of the world environment day billed for June 5, 2024. The world environment day is celebrating on the 5th of June every year as declared by the United Nations.
The declaration was made by the UN in 1974 as part of strategies to create awareness towards preservation and mobilization of action geared towards preservation of the environment. Since 1974, the day has been celebrated to highlight topical issues such as global warming, pollution and climate change.
In view of the celebration in Delta state on Wednesday, Mr. Ejiro called on the people of Delta state to acknowledge the critical role that having a healthy environment plays in sustaining life on earth.
He said land degradation, desertification and drought are not just environmental issues, they are challenges that impact food security, water sustainability, and livelihoods of millions of people around the world.
He said restoring degraded land is essential for reviving the damage done to the ecosystem, noting that reviving the environment is more than mere tree planting, but it involves comprehensive approach to reviving soil health, enhancing biodiversity and restoration, helping sequester carbon, mitigating climate change and creating a more resilient landscape.
In view of this, Mr. Ejiro called for support and implementation of sustainable agricultural practices, that restore soil fertility and prevent further degradation, insisting that investing in agroforestry, reforestation and other land restoration techniques would aid in reviving vast expanse of unproductive land.
He called for action against desertification, saying concerted global action and local initiatives should be taken and that affected communities should be empowered with the knowledge and tools to adopt sustainable and management action.
The commissioner called on Deltans to build drought resilience, saying the action is crucial to protecting vulnerable populations and ensuring water security. He said this action would involve improving water management practices, investing in drought resistant crops and enhancing early warning systems.
