Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and  former Delta State gubernatorial aspirant, Chief Sunny Onuesoke has advised  governors  to make  afforestation budget a priority.

Onuesoke spoke in Lagos during an event on the effect of deforestation in Nigeria,  said the frequent natural  disasters experienced in some parts of the country can be traced to climate change, which has been aggravated by the increased emission of greenhouse gases and loss of forest cover due to deforestation.

He lamented that the removal of trees without sufficient reforestation has resulted in damage to habitat, biodiversity loss and aridity with adverse impacts on bio-sequestration of atmospheric carbon dioxide in different parts of the country..

The PDP chieftain noted that although the federal government has increased afforestation and reforestation efforts under various projects and programmes to augment natural regeneration processes,  but the rate of afforestation is not commensurate with the rate of deforestation which  consequently   calls for  the various state governors assistant.

While calling for review of  forestry policy of 2006, he advised that  national forest management plan, with clear objectives for conservation, utilization and sustainable management should be developed, adding that  from this, the states forestry department can develop their own site specific forest management plan taking into account the three aspects of sustainable development of  social, economic and culture.

Describing afforestation as planting of trees manually in a methodical and planned manner which is  different to natural forest to  replace the depletion of forest, Onuesoke said it has a lot of advantages which include, “ increase greenery,  avoidance of  desertification,  aiding of  farming,  increase of water resources, reduces of  air pollution, aid in minimizing global warming and   increases of content in oxygen in environment.”

Beside the aforementioned importance of afforestation, the chieftain further added that it equally  provides wood in future for furniture,  provides food to tribals,  it  assist in  improvement of  biotic and abiotic components,  reduce  soil erosion and assists sustainability of flora and founa among others..