The launching was part of activities marking the 2024 International Day of Forest held at Idundu Beach, Akpabuyo local government area of the State.
By Archibong Jeremiah
Center for Social Studies and Development – We The People launched the Community Participatory Mangrove Restoration Project (CopMaRP).
The launching was part of activities marking the 2024 International Day of Forest held at Idundu Beach, Akpabuyo local government area of the State. This year’s theme is “Forests and Innovation: New Solutions for a Better World.”
Leaders of the mangrove community pledged to support the NGO in achieving the project goals while maintaining that government support is key.
His Highness, Chief Effiom Ebanga, Idundu Village Head called God’s blessings upon We The People for deeming it fit to bring their project to them.
“Let God bless the NGO, thank you for coming and thanks to you my people for coming out to listen,” Chief Effiom said.
On his part, the Village Head of Orok Ekon Village, Chief Archibong Ita also thanked the NGO. He pledged to ensure the project succeeds.
“Let us take their message seriously,” Chief Archibong urged his kinsmen who were present at the event.
In an address on behalf of Ken Henshaw, Executive Director of We The People, Ukeme-Obong Ekong thanked the community members for honoring their invitation in their numbers.
Ken said “It’s a thing of joy for us to be here. We are launching the Community Participatory Mangrove Restoration Project to mark the International Day of Forest to intensify our actions to support communities to find solutions to their problems.”
Prof. Samuel Udo of the Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology at the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) presented a paper titled “Mangroves, Forest, and Innovation” and asserted that “The current heat we are feeling is because of the excess carbon which mangroves block and send down.”
He warned, “We need to handle the forest carefully, and reduce our pressure on it because the heat is the tears of the forest and environment.”
On ways to reduce the pressure, he said “We can begin with mangroves nurseries.”
In another paper “Environment and Me” Mr. Lawrence Peter of Policy Alert, a partner organization of We The People said, “We are feeling the impact of our activities is not helping mother nature.”
He encouraged the communities to join hands with We The People and find solutions that will help them proffer lasting solutions.
On the need to reduce the increased appetite for sea foods and mangrove firewood, Mr. Peter maintained “We have many species of sea creatures that are going extinct, some are migrating because our activities are now harmful to them.”
In a vote of thanks, Madam Lilian Esor thanked the NGO for their enlightenment and urged those present to spread the good news to those not able to make it.
See the pictures below.
