From Judex Okoro, Calabar
A group, the Exquisite Royal Pearls Club, Ugep, has embarked on planting of at least 500 trees, as part of efforts to check climate change in some parts of Cross River State.
The tree-planting exercise was part of the group’s one-day climate change training/townhall meeting for residents of Ugep and neighbouring communities in Yakurr Local Government Area of the state.
Speaking at the event, the chairperson, project committee, Teyojesam Sebastine-Eko, said there was need for urgent action to address the growing threat of climate change in the community and addèd that 500 trees have been planted in Ugep urban, with plans to increase the number and expand the initiative to other parts of the state.
She noted that planting of trees was one of the most effective ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and check the dangerous impacts of climate change on the community.
Highlighting the economic benefits of tree planting, the chairperson stated that tree planting had the potential to provide a sustainable source of income for local communities, calling on residents to embrace the initiative by planting more trees in the community.
She said: “We saw the need to protect our environment against the hazardous effects of climate change. And that is why we came up with this initiative to plant these economic trees.
“We know that trees are very useful to combat climate change in our environment, especially now that there is so much deforestation going on in Ugep.
“Specifically, from August during our New Yam festival where trees are uprooted as part of the culture, to the population growth in Ugep which has caused a lot of trees to be cut down to give space for buildings that are coming up every day, more often than not, these trees are not replaced or replanted.
“Therefore, we saw a need for an afforestation sensitisation and exercise, and that is how this project was birthed. We hope that this tree planting exercise will set a positive tone for action against climate change in Ugep and its environs.
“Apart from that benefit, the trees will also sustain the livelihood of local farmers and indigenes of the community since they are economic trees whose fruits, in the not-so-distant future, can be harvested for sale.”
Commending the group for its efforts in promoting tree planting and addressing the issue of climate change in the community, the Director in the Cross River State Ministry of Agriculture, and consultant on the project, Nelson Uket, urged other organisations and individuals to emulate this example and join hands in the fight against the global phenomenon of climate change.
The event supported by the Global Green Grants Fund, USA, was attended by indigenous farmers, men, women and youths, as well as various stakeholders, including representatives from government agencies, civil society organizations, traditional rulers and the media.
It also featured practical sessions on tree planting, with participants learning how to properly plant and care for trees as well as a visit to the Obol Lopion of Ugep and paramount ruler of Yakurr LGA, Obol Ofem Ubana Eteng, to discuss partnership with the traditional institutions, which are key stakeholders in the actualisation of the project.