Deforestation is cutting down a large number of trees and clearing out forest areas. The various reasons behind these human activities are increasing the space for human usage like logging or wood extraction, agricultural expansion, infrastructure expansion etc.
Deforestation is harmful to the environment because it causes a lot of carbon emissions and alters the natural ecosystem. It also contributes to global warming and climate change because plants release the stored carbon into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide when they are cutting down.
Deforestation is one of the major problems affecting the people of Misau Local Government Area of Bauchi State. On 21st May, 2023 the residents witnessed a heavy rainfall and hurricane that demolished hundreds of houses.
The incident is said to be related to deforestation in one area called Balewal in the LGA.
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Environmental activists and community leaders alerted the government on the dangerous trend which is capable of plunging the area into serious security and environmental disaster.
It’s obvious that politicians in Misau LGA see our forests as political bounties. Whenever an election is held, the target of the members of the winning party is to take control of forests and reserves in their communities. This practice started more than a decade ago but worsened from 2020 to date.
In 2020, the government suspended the Emir of Misau and some other traditional rulers because of their role in deforestation. But it seems the government is still not aware that this ugly act is still ongoing across Misau.
This deforestation is putting the residents of Misau in fear over the rainy season. Everyone knows that trees release much-needed oxygen and cutting them down indiscriminately is equal to denying ourselves the precious life gift. Lack of tree cover will also result in the trapping of greenhouse gases which will adversely affect the ozone layer and could cause diseases like leukaemia and cancer.
We are calling on the state government to please address this matter urgently and save our environment.
Asma’u Muhammad, Department of Mass Communication, University of Maiduguri.
