Location: Nigeria, Kano, Kano, Bayero University New Campus
Credit: Aliyu Barau
Initiative: IPCC (United Nations )
Project: Special Report on Climate Chnage and Cities
Story: Scene: This is a picture of a mature Faidherbia (Faidherbia albida) also called apple-ring acacia, ana tree, or white acacia in English. It stands within the premises of the Bayero University Kano’s Centre of Excellence (location: 11.971612644102658; 8.4273332711641). This native tree sheds its leaves in the one-time rainy season of the Savanna when most plants bloom and flourish. Situation: this tree blooms only and becomes all green in the dry season when other trees lost their leaves. Where ever Faidherbia tree stands it shelters multistorey nests of birds and ruminants stay under its shade in the dry season awaiting a windfall of its sweet kernels. Context: the story of Faidherbia is a story of hope in the nature based solutions to reshape our cities in the Anthropocene where more nature presence is needed. This tree reprersents a shelter for all humans and animals. It symbolises resilience, beauty and promise of co-existence and urban sustainability. Impact: this tree represents resilience and promises of ecology in, ecology for, and ecology of the city in the age of changing climate. Its aesthetics, morphology and functions demonstrate the power of nature-based solutions in tackling climate change in cities.