UNDP Plants 500 Trees in Rivers State
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has planted over 500 trees at Oko-Ohia Afara in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The exercise was part of the on-going Biodiversity conservation programme of the UNDP.
The national coordinator of the UNDP Niger Delta Biodiversity Conservation Programme Dr. Matthew Dore made this statement at Afara on the 23rd of January 2017 in an interview with newsmen. He urged for strong political will to preserve the forest from destruction.
He said that the tree planting exercise was to enable the forest to recover some of its losses due to a recent fire incident which gutted parts of the forest’ [read more]
Ecologist Warns Against Tree Felling
An environmentalist, Mr. Habib Omotosho, has urged Nigerians, particularly rural women, to stop cutting down trees for timber and firewood.
Omotosho, the National Coordinator, Environmental Advancement Initiatives, gave the advice in an interview in Abuja on the 30th of January 2017.
Omotosho described deforestation as a negative environmental phenomenon. He said his advice became imperative because many rural women had resorted to cutting down trees for firewood, owing to the high price of kerosene.
He also stressed that trees were very important to the ecosystem, as they absorbed the harmful carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere, thus acting as natural friends of humans.
However, ecologist say that trees absorb water in large quantities during heavy rains, but due to large-scale deforestation, there were fewer trees around to absorb and retain water.
He added that this had led to heavy floods, causing heavy losses of life and property’ [read more]
Fall Armyworm ‘Threatens African Farmers’ Livelihoods
Scientists are calling for urgent action to stop the spread of a pest that is destroying maize crops and spreading rapidly across Africa.
The Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International (Cabi) warns that the fall armyworm poses a major threat to food security and agricultural trade.
It says farmers’ livelihoods are at risk as the non-native larvae threatens to reach Asia and the Mediterranean.
It is called an armyworm because it eats its way through most of the vegetation in its way as it marches through crops. it is native to North and South America but was identified for the first time in Africa last year.
Scientists think the caterpillar or its eggs may have reached the continent through imported produce. Once established in an area, the adult moths can fly large distances and spread rapidly.
Dr Jayne Crozier, of Cabi, said the armyworm’s presence had now been confirmed in west Africa and was thought to be present in the south and east of the continent, many parts of which rely on maize for their staple diet.
The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) is to hold an emergency meeting in Harare between 14 and 16 February 2017 to decide emergency responses to the armyworm threat’ [read more]
China Builds World’s Biggest Solar Farm: Quest for Green Superpower
China is on its way to becoming the first “Green Superpower” through building the world’s largest solar farm in the western province of Qinghai.
According to The Guardian, the mega-project is called the Longyangxia Dam Solar Park, a remote 27-square-kilometer solar farm that emphasizes the country’s desire to “transform” itself into a green superpower.
It was built for a whopping cost of 6 billion Yuan and is constantly expanding since 2013. The solar farm now has the capacity to produce 850 MW of power, which is more than enough to supply up to 200,000 households.
Anders Hove, a Beijing-based clean energy expert from the Paulson Institute, said that as early as 2012, solar power was “shunned” as a potential power source in China, given it being expensive.
However, New York Times revealed that costs for solar and wind power have fallen and by 2020, China aims to be producing 110 GW of solar power and 210 GW of wind power as part of the country’s ambitious plans to slash pollution and emissions’ [read more]
World Bank Honours Nigerian Lawyer Over Support for Environment
The World Bank has issued a certificate of appreciation to a Nigerian lawyer, Olaseni Oyefeso, for his contribution to “Enabling the Business of Agriculture 2017 World Bank project.
Oyefeso was identified as an expert on Nigerian Law regarding environmental matters.
He was contracted by the World Bank in February 2016 to render legal support on Nigerian laws and regulations relating to environmental matters, agricultural productivity and market access as well as Nigerian policy for the environment, agriculture and the legal framework for water in Nigeria’ [read more]