The Katsina-One-Tree Initiative targets two million trees in 2026 and 11 million by 2030, with implementation planned across all 34 local government areas.
By Wapcodehub9ja LIVE News Desk
Katsina State Governor Dikko Umaru Radda has launched a statewide tree-planting campaign targeting 11 million trees by 2030 as his administration intensifies efforts to combat desertification, restore degraded land and strengthen the state’s resilience to climate change.
The initiative, known as the Katsina-One-Tree Initiative (KT1T), begins with a target of planting and nurturing two million trees in 2026. It is designed to cover all 34 local government areas and 6,652 Climate Intervention Areas across the state.
Radda announced the programme on Monday, October 19, during its flag-off ceremony at Ladanawa in Rimi Local Government Area. He called on residents, community leaders, public institutions and other stakeholders to participate in environmental protection, stressing that the programme’s success would depend on sustained public involvement.
The governor identified climate change, desertification and flooding as major threats to agriculture, food security and rural livelihoods. He said environmental degradation affects farming communities by worsening soil conditions, reducing productive land and increasing pressure on household resources.
According to Radda, properly established trees can help protect farmland against wind erosion, improve soil conditions and provide additional resources such as fruits and animal fodder. He added that the initiative could also create income opportunities for rural households while supporting environmental restoration.
To coordinate implementation, the governor announced a monitoring structure involving a central steering committee, three zonal monitoring committees covering Katsina, Daura and Funtua, local government supervisory committees and ward-level implementation teams. He also directed schools, healthcare facilities, ministries, departments and agencies, and local governments to participate in the campaign.
Radda emphasised that performance would be assessed not simply by the number of seedlings distributed but by how many trees survive and grow to maturity. The monitoring structure is intended to strengthen accountability, track implementation and ensure that planted trees receive the necessary care.
The Director-General of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall, Saleh Abubakar, who represented the Minister of Agriculture, Balarabe Hassan, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s support for efforts to combat desertification and restore degraded land. He said cooperation between federal and state authorities, alongside improved monitoring, would support implementation and environmental data collection.
The initiative places community participation at the centre of Katsina’s response to environmental pressures. Its long-term impact will depend on consistent planting, protection of seedlings, adequate maintenance and transparent reporting of progress towards the 2030 target.
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