Planting Trees Key to Reducing Heat in Kano — Anka
By Ayeeshat J. Ahmad kano
The Director of Climate Change, Kano State Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Umar Saleh Anka, has identified tree planting as a key measure to reduce the impact of rising temperatures and intense heat being experienced across the state.
Anka stated this on Friday in an interview with a Pulse Time Nigeria correspondent in Kano, while speaking on the environmental challenges associated with climate change, desertification and the loss of vegetation.
He said trees could help reduce heat, purify the air and provide natural shade, making their planting and protection important in addressing the effects of the changing climate.
“Planting trees is very important because they help to purify the air, reduce temperature and provide natural shade, especially during periods of intense heat,” Anka said.
He explained that the loss of vegetation and increasing desertification were contributing to the harsh environmental conditions being experienced in parts of Kano.
According to him, the Kano State Climate Change Unit has commenced the distribution of 10 million tree seedlings to community groups, associations and other stakeholders across the state’s 44 Local Government Areas.
Anka, however, stressed that the success of tree-planting efforts would depend on residents’ willingness to nurture and protect the seedlings after planting.
He also warned against indiscriminate tree felling, saying the government had strengthened measures to regulate the cutting of trees in the state.
“People should not cut down trees indiscriminately. We need to protect the trees we already have while planting more,” he said.
The director particularly appealed to women to take an active role in nurturing newly planted trees, comparing the responsibility to caring for babies.
“Women have a very important role to play in nurturing these trees. They should care for them just as they care for their babies,” he said.
Anka called for greater community participation in environmental protection, saying reducing the impact of global warming and desertification required collective action.
He urged residents to plant and protect trees around their homes and communities, stressing that maintaining existing vegetation was as important as planting new trees.
Kano has in recent years intensified tree-planting initiatives as part of efforts to combat desertification and build climate resilience. The state government distributed millions of seedlings across its 44 Local Government Areas in 2025, while other organisations have also launched tree-planting programmes in the state.