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By Our Reporter
The African Climate Reality Project (ACRP) convened a pivotal workshop at the Federal Government College, Rumuokoro, with a call to build community resilience through climate education and targeted tree planting initiatives.
The event, themed ‘Building Community Resilience Through Climate Education and Tree Planting,’ brought together environmental activists, government agencies, and community members to chart a sustainable path forward against environmental threats like erosion, flooding, and gas flaring.
Mr. Smith Nwokocha, Country Mentor for the African Climate Reality Project in Nigeria, in his remarks, outlined the workshop’s dual mission. He stated that the event was designed to create robust adaptation measures to tackle pressing environmental challenges across Nigeria and West Africa.
“This Climate Change Adaptation Workshop and Tree planting is aimed at creating adaptation measures to tackle Erosion, Flooding, Gas Flaring and to curb the effect of climate change,” Nwokocha said.
Translating words into immediate action, he announced the launch of a tree planting exercise focused on planting 50 to 100 trees within the school premises, embedding the workshop’s theme directly into the local environment.
Dr. Mercy Bello Abu, a resource person at the event, delivered a powerful presentation titled ‘Nature Based Solutions For Adaptation: A Path to Resilience Rooted in Nature.’ She eloquently detailed the multifaceted benefits of planting trees, describing it as a foundational natural solution.
“Trees help to improve air quality, biodiversity, food security and livelihood of the people,” Dr. Abu said.
She explained that tree roots act as a natural barrier against soil erosion and landslides, while their foliage absorbs harmful carbon monoxide, reducing the negative effects of greenhouse gases. She further noted that trees play a critical role in reducing ambient heat and improving water infiltration into the soil.
Dr. Abu also highlighted the broader benefits of ecosystem restoration, including disaster risk reduction, the recreation of habitats for diverse flora and fauna, and the sustenance of livelihoods through activities like fishing and farming. She championed Nature-Based Solutions as “powerful and cost-effective approaches to climate adaptation.”
Providing a stark analysis of the problem, Dr. Chizor Wisdom Dike, an Environmental Impact Activist, spoke on ‘Understanding Climate Change and Local Impact.’ He connected global phenomena to local realities, identifying industrial activities, heat production, burning of fossil fuels, transportation, and coal production as primary drivers of climate change.
He linked these activities directly to the rise in global temperature, a consequence of increased concentrations of Greenhouse Gases. Dr. Dike called on all stakeholders to intensify awareness campaigns on the effects of climate change. He urged for better environmental stewardship and a critical shift in energy sources, specifically advocating for a transition to solar power.
The call for actionable strategies was reinforced by other facilitators. Mr. Victor Odiba, representing the Zonal Director of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), urged participants to move beyond passive listening.
“I want to encourage us to go beyond just listening and gathering knowledge, we should think of ways or strategies to act on,” Odiba implored. He emphasized that tree planting is not merely an adaptation measure but a critical intervention to “reduce the velocity of damage caused by climate change.”
Echoing the sentiment, Dr. Michael Obiora, the Rivers State Commandant for the Peace Corps, commended the organizers for the insightful event. “I have learnt so much from here,” he said, emphasizing that protecting and caring for the environment is a collective duty. He described the workshop as both a privilege for learning and a urgent call to action for everyone present.
The workshop concluded with a consensus on the need for sustained, collaborative efforts to embed climate education and nature-based solutions like tree planting into the fabric of community development, ensuring a more resilient future for Rivers State and beyond.
