The Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Professor Kabiru Bala, says that Northern Nigeria, particularly Kaduna State, is witnessing firsthand the consequences of deforestation and land degradation, erratic rainfall patterns, increasing temperatures, soil erosion, and declining agricultural productivity.

He made this known at the AGRA/NARRLS/Eco-climate/Thrive Agric/FRIN International Day of Forestry, held at the NAERLS Ultra Modern Hall, Zaria.

Professor Bala added that these challenges disproportionately affect smallholder farmers, who form the backbone of our agricultural economy.

According to the Vice Chancellor, who is also the Chairman of the occasion, the launch of the Agroforestry Component of the AGRA Kaduna Consortium Project represents a significant step forward.

?The ambitious plan to plant 200,000 trees across 375 hectares in six local government areas of Kaduna State demonstrates a concrete commitment to action.?

This is not merely an environmental intervention?it is an investment in the resilience and prosperity of our farming communities.

In his remarks, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Murtala Dabo, said that the comm?moration of the International Day of Forests 2025 and the official launch of the AGRA Kaduna Consortium Tree Planting and Agroforestry Project is a timely and important event.

Dabo said that this significant occasion represents not merely a celebration of our forests but a reaffirmation of our commitment to the restoration, sustainable management, and conservation of our natural ecosystems for the benefit of present and future generations.

He stated that the theme for this year?s International Day of Forests, ?Forests and Food,? underscores the vital relationship between forest ecosystems and human well-being.

Forests function as critical regulators of global climate patterns, repositories of biodiversity, and providers of essential ecosystem services that sustain millions of livelihoods worldwide.

According to him, in Kaduna State, they recognise that sustainable forest management constitutes not only an environmental imperative but also a foundational element of our economic resilience and social development strategy.

He added that Kaduna State has taken a significant stride in environmental stewardship and food security with the launch of the AGRA Kaduna Consortium Tree Planting and Agroforestry Project.

This initiative exemplifies our dedication to implementing evidence-based, sustainable land-use practices by strategically integrating woody perennials with agricultural crops and livestock systems.

This multifunctional approach aims to:

Enhance agricultural productivity

Facilitate the rehabilitation of degraded landscapes

Strengthen community resilience to climate change impacts

Ensure food and nutritional security

Enhance biodiversity conservation

Improve soil health and structure

Diversify income streams for farming households

Create microclimates favourable for crop production. (Nigerian Tribune)

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