Acacia Shrubs and Trees for Climate Change Mitigation and Economic Growth: An Imperative towards Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in Yobe, Nigeria

Abstract

The need to mitigate the effect of climate change arising from over exploitation of natural resources and to improve the economic wellbeing of the common populace in Sub -Saharan Africa particularly the northern Sahelian state of Yobe. Acacia is one of the trees adapted to the Sahelian climate of Yobe that provides a lot of social and economic benefits, and it’s exploited in wild state. This paper highlights the domestication of the tree using silvicultural practices and silvics of the tree by elucidating the origin, climatic and soil requirement, product they produce diseases and control methods. Findings reveal the following information based on cited literatures. The plant grows in drier Sahelian climates of Africa, parts of Arabia and parts of India and Pakistan. It produces gum Arabic, fodder for livestock and other medicinal products. Findings implies that Acacia Senegal is suitable for agro forestry based on the fact that Acacia is a nitrogen fixer and produce no thick canopy making it possible for crops to thrive well underneath their canopy.