The evil of deforestation

trueBy Solomon Ngobi

Africa is facing very many problems but few have been solved. One of the major ones is environmental degradation through deforestation. Deforestation is having a big impact on the environment.

We need to rise up and manage the environment because it is our own responsibility as citizens of this nation. This can be done through a forestation and re-a forestation.

There is need to plant and re-plant trees where they have ever existed before and this can be done right from schools at its center.

It is very easy to teach and plant trees in schools and universities because students get much time to take care of trees and also it sets a good example to them as young people whom we believe to be future leaders of this Africa, for instance,  Busoga College Mwiri was provided with over  700 tree seedlings which we planted  under the supervision of the school administration and we were advised to do plant more as a form of remembrance which we complied with.

So, it is so easy to change our environment either positively or negatively. It is never too late the private sectors and the Governments to setup more tree planting projects all over the continent.

Human activities like deforestation can also be controlled in Africa through minimising the use of firewood and charcoal because this has seriously jeopardised the environment. There is a need to implement the use of charcoal saving stoves and gas cookers to regulate charcoal use and save the trees.

Similarly, it is very good that there is promotion of rural electrification though this is a bit unaffordable by the majority locals.

Lastly, mass mobilisation and sensitisation through local leaders such as political leaders, government officials and church leaders should be intensified about the vice and its demerits because very many Africans believe in leaders and so, if leaders themselves talk about reforestation and a forestation then positive change could easily be noticed.

The writer is the Speaker of the Busoga College Mwiri Students Council