Ecologist advocates intensive campaign against bush burning

An ecologist, Mr Abdullahi Aremu, has called for  a sensitisation campaign  against bush burning, saying the  effects  on rural  livelihood and  the ecosystem is becoming  increasingly  extensive.

Aremu, the Director-General, Advocacy for Environmental and Sanitation Integrity, an NGO, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja on Tuesday.

According to him, there is a need for an increased understanding of the causes and the effects of bush fire on the ecosystem.

“Education and community awareness need to be focused on, especially on threat to the environment and property caused by inappropriate use of fire.”

“Burning is too frequent, extensive in area of excessive intensity and badly tuned or carelessly implemented,” he said.”

Aremu said several reports had shown that fire had killed sensitive species such as the broad leafed herbaceous species, thus allowing some fire resistant species to dominate the vegetation with continuous frequent burning.

“Fire has been listed as a major threatening  process  for  biodiversity. Frequent burning of bush has been considered as having negative effects on biodiversity.”

“Burning of vegetation results in decreased biodiversity population density of herbaceous species and loss of organic matter in soil.”

“It is one of the challenges in our environment as it is embedded in the cultural value and traditional farming system  of  the people,” Aremu added.