HYPPADEC plants economic trees to tackle deforestation in Niger

The Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) has begun the planting of economic trees in Niger to tackle deforestation.

Alhaji Abubakar Yelwa, Managing Director, HYPPADEC, disclosed this on Monday during the tree planting in Shata community in Bosso Local Government Area of the state.

The event is to commemorate the 2023 World Environmental Day (WED).
Yelwa announced that the three senatorial zones in the state would benefit from a 40 hectares afforestation project under the programme.
“For the inauguration of this programme we proposed to plant 100 assorted economic trees in Shata community,” he said.

He explained that the zone “B” part of the state which Shata community belongs to would benefit 10 hectares, while the balance of 30 hectares would be spread across zones “A” and “C” accordingly.

The Managing Director, who was represented by Mr Iliyasu Wara, Director Operations, said that there was the need to plant trees in order to curb deforestation menace and protect the environment.

He said that other states under the operating areas of HYPPADEC such as Kwara, Kogi, Benue, Kebbi and Plateau would also benefit from the programme.
Yelwa said that the commission would continue to carry out advocacy and sensitization against cutting of trees and its consequences to humanity.

“The current rate of charcoal production is alarming in Niger state, which means that trees are cut down every day,” he said.

He decried the indiscriminate dumping of refuse in drainages and other unauthorised places by the public, adding that such activities are responsible for many of the flooding in the state.

The Managing Director, revealed that the commission had concluded arrangements to desilt 50 kilometres of drainage in the state.

“Our contractors are ready for the job, all we have to do is to give them their award letters to move to site,” he said.
He said that the commission has developed a blueprint for intervention to mop-up plastic materials in Minna and environs to help save the environment.
“In the next six months you will see HYPPADEC tricycles going round to pick up plastics,” he said.

Prof. Muhammad Bashir, a resource person from the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, who spoke on this year’s WED theme; “Solution to Plastic Pollution”, decried the use and indiscriminate dumping of plastics.
Bashir called for innovation and research for effective recycling of the plastic materials to enhance economic growth.

Also, Alhaji Umar Bahago, Emir of Minna, who was represented by the District Head of Bosso, Alhaji Mu’azu Adamu, appreciated the efforts of the commission since inception.
Bahago called on the redidents to desist from indiscriminate felling of trees especially, the economic trees in their communities.

Our correspondent reports that the economic trees planted during the inauguration included cashew, eucalyptus, guava and mango trees.
Deforestation refers to the decrease in forest areas across the world that are lost for other uses such as agricultural croplands, urbanization, or mining activities.

It is greatly accelerated by human activities since 1960 and has been negatively affecting natural ecosystems, biodiversity, and the climate.