By Musa Affos (Rhapsodi)

It is often said that ‘cowardice is when you keep quiet in a situation that demands speaking’. The above subject matter ‘Deforestation’ if neglected will turn one into a coward.

In recent times, there have been cases of storms which led to loss of lives and destruction of properties worth millions here in Jalingo and other towns and villages in Taraba.

Deforestation is the permanent destruction of forests in order to make the land available for other uses. In a layman’s language, it is the act of cutting down tress till it reaches it threshold. There have been several and numerous cases of illegal cutting down of trees in Nigeria, especially the northern hemisphere, more specific the north eastern region, but for the sake of this piece, I will like to use Kurmi LGA of Taraba state as case study.

Before the public awareness of “Madrid”-trees, uses & importance around here, Kurmi has since been a victim of incessant felling of trees, which was known for it abundant natural resources. The felling down of trees for timber has become a normal routine, as on a daily basis not less than five to seven trucks of timber are evacuated from the area. The alarming aspect of it is that, such an act does not mostly follow due process leading to loss of revenue to both the local and state government. This tends to be a source of income for certain political class of people & stakeholders within the community and to worsen the situation, trees are not planted to replace those that have been fallen.

Since the discovery and the awareness of the monetary aspect of “Madrid” wood came to limelight in the region and state at large, hundreds of youths have picked interest in it (hence it has become a money spinner) and quite a number of them have dumped education and school as they prefer to make money. This has led to massive increase in the number of those participating in the business as there is a daily massive influx for people from all nooks and crannies into the venture and if left unchecked, it portrays danger for the survival of our people and the natural habitat for flora and fauna.
The incessant felling of trees in Kurmi has reached it threshold and its fast becoming alarming. For example when you travel from Baissa (Kurmi LGA headquarters) to Asha, what used to be a thick forest is now only a faint forest with no much trees as before, same thing is applicable to Abong route, Yaboro, Sabon gida, Akwanwe, and other towns of the Local government area.

If this trend continues incessantly in the name of either “Madrid” or timber and yet there is no effort for reforestation, we will be exposing the environment to natural degradation and lost of natural ecosystem that will affect both flora and fauna. In the next 100 years, our dearly forested Kurmi will certainly lost her name “kurmi” meaning forest. The forest has been part of the survival of our people over the years and have become our heritage handed down to us by our forefathers, if we continue like this, what shall we bequeath What shall we tell the next generation?

As a way of remedy to the fast growing deforestation in Kurmi and Taraba state at large; I suggest the following: let there be a proper tree planting campaign by the government to plant the required specie of trees that have wood value like the “Madrid” specie. Secondly, let Local government chairmen take responsibility of creating the needed awareness and advocacy to enlighten the host communities on the need to safeguard the forest resources as we as the dangers of the deforestation and its consequences. Thirdly, let there also be a well organized body that will aide in regulating the rate of feeling trees, and if anyone is found guilty, he or she should be reported and let them be penalties for defaulter and proper enforcement of reforestation laws where necessary, and finally, let there be no room for sentiment & nepotism. If we refuse to protect our forest resources today, we going to one day bequeath a desert for the future generations.

Musa Affos is a blogger and a social media activist.
MusaAffos@gmail.com

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