As a collective step to help address climate change, a group, the Exquisite Royal Pearls Club of Ugep has planted 500 trees in Ugep as part of her one-day climate change training/town hall meeting for local residents in the area.
Speaking at the event, Teyojesam Sebastine-Eko, Chairperson of the Project Committee, emphasized the need for urgent action to address the growing threat of climate change in the community. She noted that the planting of trees is one of the most effective ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and check the dangerous impact of climate change on the community.
She also highlighted the economic benefits of tree planting, stating that it has the potential to provide a sustainable source of income for local communities while calling on residents of Ugep to embrace the initiative by planting more trees in the community.
“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. 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 it’s 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,” she added.
Nelson Uket, a Director in the Cross River State Ministry of Agriculture, and consultant on the project, commended the group for its efforts in promoting tree planting and addressing the issue of climate change in the community. He urged other organizations 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 featured practical sessions on tree planting, with participants learning how to properly plant and care for trees. As part of the initiative, the Exquisite Royal Pearls planted 500 trees in Ugep urban, with plans to increase the number and expand the initiative to other parts of the LGA.
On the sidelines of the event, was a visit to the Obol Lopon of Ugep, and Paramount Ruler of Yakurr Local Government, Obol Ofem Ubana Eteng; to discuss partnership with the traditional institutions, which according to them, are key stakeholders in the actualization of this project.
