An environmentalist, Mr Taiwo Adewole, has appealed to the Federal and State Governments to reinforce the law on illegal felling of trees.
Adewole appealed in an interview on Thursday in Lagos.
According to him, illegal logging and deforestation disrupt the natural balance of ecosystems with attendant consequences of loss of biodiversity, soil erosion and changes in the local climate.
“The law on illegal tree felling must be reinforced. There must be a relationship between the federal and state environmental protection agencies and it must be strong.
“The government must consider the environment first and the people. There must be a collaboration and partnership between the planet and the people,” he said.
He added that the government should also make tree planting compulsory and one of the criteria for approval of building plans to make space for greenery.
“For every government developmental project that requires tree felling, there must be a proper planning for replacing those trees in larger quantities,” he said.
The expert stated that planting of more trees would help absorb excess carbon emissions in the environment and return, release oxygen.
He also noted that the government could harness innovative methods to sustainably manage and protect the forests from illegal felling.
“This is by providing cheaper alternatives to forests felling.
“This includes encouraging alternatives to using firewood for cooking and granting subsidy on solar and other alternative renewable energy.
“The Federal Government should also ensure that states domesticate national environmental laws and policies,” he said.
NAN
