The Governor of Borno State Babagana Umara Zulum, has called on the global community to take action and revive the Sambisa forest which has been devastated following the activities of Boko Haram in over a decade of insurgency.
Zulum was speaking in New York recently at the UN’s High-Level Segment Roundtable with the theme: “Forest-based solutions to the triple planetary crises: A focus on people, science, technology, and finance.”
The Governor said, “Borno State has been significantly impacted by the crisis of insecurity caused by Boko Haram insurgency which has led to widespread displacement of communities, destruction of infrastructure, and loss of livelihoods.”
He went on to also say “the conflict has also exacerbated environmental degradation, including deforestation and loss of biodiversity in our major forest, the Sambisa Forest, which has further exacerbated the vulnerabilities of our region.”
Governor further declared that the loss of forest cover has resulted in soil erosion, reduced water availability, loss of biodiversity and increased vulnerability to climate change impacts.
He noted that the shrinking of Lake Chad, which was a vital source of water and livelihood for millions of people in the region, has been a direct consequence of climate change resulting from the incessant destruction of forests such as Sambisa.
According to the Governor, deforestation in Borno State is being driven by a combination of factors, including population growth, agricultural expansion, unsustainable land use practices, need for energy and the impact of the conflict.
Zulum listed initiatives, including rehabilitation and restoration, community engagements, monitoring and evaluation and collaboration and partnership as measures to save the forest devastated by activities of terrorists.