Abbas Yushau Yusuf
As the plan to plant one million trees in 2024 gains momentum through crowdfunding in Kano, the campaign led by the convener Ismail Auwalu, stated that in order to mitigate global warming in Kano, the crowdfunding initiative is gaining acceptance.
Ismail Auwal, in an exclusive interview with NIGERIAN TRACKER, said that as of now, they have secured sponsorship for almost six thousand trees to be planted in various locations in Kano to combat global warming.
Ismail, who initiated the campaign on his Facebook page and other social media platforms, said that many good Samaritans responded by donating trees for planting in Kano State.
Regarding their approach to planting the trees, Ismail said they would partner with Islamic scholars and Christian clerics to begin planting the trees on Sallah day, expected to be held on the 9th or 10th of April in Kano State.
“We are going to distribute trees across mosques, and those interested will be given trees to plant,” Ismail said.
He further explained that the first stage of planting trees involves distributing them across mosques and churches in Kano. He mentioned that they chose to distribute them in worship places because they found that newly planted trees tend to be more sustainable there, unlike in 2019 when communities where the trees were planted struggled to sustain them.
Auwal added that they would also target schools and business people interested in planting trees around their surroundings.
“We started in 2019, and from our experience, the trees last longer in worship places, especially mosques,” he said. “Before, we planted in communities, but they did not last. We learned that they last longer in schools and worship places, so we carefully selected varieties that are very resistant and can grow into mature species.
“Sometimes we track and monitor progress. We also raise awareness in communities, and we have knowledgeable individuals, especially professors, who can provide guidance and advice,” he added.
Through crowdfunding, we have raised 650 thousand Naira, making it almost five thousand trees within 24 hours,” he said.
“There are pledges that we have. We are targeting one million before the end of 2024, and that will determine the next project. This will be a litmus test for crowdfunding.”
There is a significant relationship between humans and trees. Carbon dioxide leads to global warming, and trees absorb carbon dioxide, so if there are no trees, it leads to global warming,” he emphasized.
Ismail mentioned that unfortunately, major government roads in Kano metropolitan areas lack trees, citing examples such as state roads and the famous Zoo Road in Kano.
He said that with global warming, there is sometimes no need to persuade anyone to plant a tree, especially in a state like Kano, located in the tropics
Regarding engaging the government in the project, the convener of Make Kano Green, Ismail Auwal, said they would not approach the government, but if it is interested it can key in.
Kano is the most populous state in Nigeria, according to the 2006 population census, but since then, for over 18 years, the federal government of Nigeria has not conducted a population census, during the hot season, the people of the city suffer due to excess heat, attributed to the lack of sufficient trees in the city.
