PIMAN Hoffman, a Climatologist and Assistant Director of African Climate Reporters, has urged local bakers to embrace modern methods of baking to preserved African forest reserves.

Hoffman made the appeal in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Kaduna.

“The daily demand of firewood by traditional bakery houses is becoming a big threat to forestry, hence, the need for AU, European Union (EU) and other stakeholders to embark on raising awareness on the dangers posed by traditional bakeries activities to the forest land in Africa.

He appealed to the AU and other stakeholders for a quick intervention on the continuous attack of forest reserves by firewood dealers and business men due to high demand.

According to him, traditional bakers still use the old methods for their activities which contribute to global warming that triggers climate change.

“Africa’s forestry is gradually going extinct due to continuous demand of firewood for domestic cooking, bakery, building construction and mining activities.

“Every day thousands of trees are cut down without replacement of new ones in Nigeria and some parts of Africa.

“More forest reserves are fast turning into desert land and this has forced the migration of millions of wildlife animals and human beings.

According to him, a research conducted by a team of African Climate Reporters revealed that in every community/ghetto in cities of Africa, there are more than three to four traditional local bakeries that daily use a truck load of firewood for their activities.

Hoffman stressed the need for bakery owners in Africa to embrace modern methods to carry out their activities like electricity or solar power for baking.

He said that would reduce dependence on firewood and other local methods for their baking activities.

“Humans throughout history have played a key role in determining the number of living trees but the fact remains that local bakeries in Africa consumed high quantity of firewood daily for production and other uses.

“The old method of baking consumed large quantity of firewood and yet workers still used manual form of mixing the ingredients during their production.

“The old methods were seen as unnecessary both hygienically and financially unsound most importantly since it produces bread and sweets that are not up to standard and taste.

“The population of trees decreased daily as a result of this ugly practice of illegal felling of trees including the activities of local miners.

“Human activity is the greatest predictor of whether trees will survive in a given area.

“Government must halt the continuous attack on forest for firewood and bakers must embrace alternative energy from sun, wind, and electricity.

“Previous estimates collected by satellite imaging suggested that just over 400 billion trees live around the world.

“Local bakeries in Africa should embrace modern methods like what is obtainable in some bakeries in Nigeria such as some in Kaduna, Abuja and Lagos.’’

Hoffman said AU must be committed to the daily fight against climate change, and all issues related to environmental degradation to serve the entire region against disasters.

He said that trees occupy nearly every corner of the globe but the study shows coverage was far from even and factors like moisture and warmth played a role in how many trees exist in a given area.

He added that in a researched conducted by some international organization, people cut down around 15 billion trees each year.

While calling on state governments to support local bakeries to embrace modern methods of baking, the Climatologist appealed to the Ministries of Agriculture and Environment to be more committed in the fight against indiscriminate falling of forest trees.

He said that adequate laws should be put in place to punish offenders like indiscriminate burning of bush and to halt activities of some hunters who set bush on fire to hunt for games. (NAN)

– Feb. 13, 2019 @ 11:15 GMT |