The Neighbourhood Environment Watch Foundation (NEW-F) planted 500 trees in an initiative to tackle climate change in Ogada-Edda and Ohatekwe-Edda communities in Abakaliki Local Government Area of Ebonyi State in Nigeria.
Dr Kelechi Okezie, Executive Director of the foundation disclosed in an interview on monday that the tree planting exercise was part of the foundations “Strengthening Local Advocacy Against Climate Change” or SLACC programme targeted at improving the environmental state of state.
The communities donated land for the trees, showing their commitment to forest conservation. We urge them to nurture these trees for their economic, social, and environmental benefits,” Dr Victor said.
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The executive director lamented the rampant cutting down of trees in the state urging all stakeholders to tackle deforestation in order to minimze the effects of climate change. He added that the UN in recognition for trees has set aside March 21 as the International day of forests to tackle deforestation.
“This day is recognised annually to raise awareness about the importance of all types of forests and to promote their sustainable management, conservation and development.
“There should be a commitment to protecting the environment; a local tree called “akparata” in one of the communities has gone into extinction due to the activities of Chinese people who deceived the people in cutting and selling to them this hard wood.
“Today, the akparata tree is no longer seen in Abakaliki or any part of the community and same is the fate of most other local trees in many of our forests,” he added.
In closing, The foundation director urged Ebonyi citizens to shun activities that could lead to environmental abuse, degradation and deforestation like he earlier said.
