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Opportunities and resources for livelihood and health abound in the forest sector if they are protected and conserved.
This was part of the messages in a keynote address delivered recently at Otuobagi community in Bayelsa State by Mr. Jeremiah Dagana, deputy director of Climate Change in the Bayelsa State Ministry of Environment.
He spoke at an event on Advancing Climate Change Response through Promoting Local Actions around mitigating related challenges in Ogbia Local Government Area organized by Community Environment and Development Network (CEDEN) and the Social Development integrated Center – Social action (SDIC-SA) and sponsored by Global Green Grant Fund.
Dagana said: “There are several opportunities and resources in the forest sector if all the stakeholders can ensure the protection and conservation of the forest. Different organizations can collaborate with the government to build capacity of the local people, especially women and youths in sustainable harvesting techniques of non-timer products.”
The climate change deputy director decried the fast deforestation going on in the state.
“As you are aware, Bayelsa State is blessed with abundance of natural resources with a wide range of Biodiversity in its rich mangrove and rainforest Ecosystem. Unfortunately our rich forest Ecosystem has been threatened and severely damaged through unregulated and indiscriminate logging of Timber, oil exploration and exploitation with many other harmful activities contributing to environmental degradation and devastation.
“Deforestation and Biodiversity loss is at an alarming rate, and this is responsible for the disappearance of economic trees such as Ogbono, raffia palm, bush beans, excessive flooding that submerges our communities with many other socio-economic problems…This is why the commissioner for Environment with the approval of His Excellency the executive governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri have closed the forest from all forms of timber logging in the state,” he stated.
He added that this timely intervention of the state governor is a testament of his visionary leadership in environmental governance, conservation and sustainability, and will, give room for the restructuring of the regulatory framework of the forestry sector.
Mr. Dagana stressed that climate change challenges can be fought and won at the local level, for which reason, tree planting at community level is imperative.
“Let us remember that the fight against climate change and its impact such as flooding and land and coastal Erosion can be won and lost right here at the local level. This is why local action of tree planting especially, the raffia palm tree will go a long way to restore the lost raffia forest ecosystem in the Ekpadio Swamp forest area of Otuabagi in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State,” he added.
Calling for collective effort in reforestation and conservation, the climate change expert urged youths, women, youth, private sector and civil society to embrace the planting of raffia and ogbono trees to improve livelihoods, preserve the people’s culture and an assured future for coming generations.
“We recognize that communities must be at the center in protecting the forest and the benefit will also be theirs. A conserved forest will mitigate climate change, control flooding, enhance Biodiversity and improve livelihood. We call on our youth and women, NGO, CBO, private sector to take pride in reforestation. Let us remember that if we plant a raffia palm today, we are not just growing a tree, we are investing in water, culture, livelihoods and the future,”he urged.
He added that the workshop should, “mark the beginning of a greener and more prosperous tomorrow for all the communities that are in this local government area,” and advised,” Together let us continue to plant trees and comply with the policies of the Assured Prosperity Agenda of this administration”.
He commended the project organizers describing the programme as a step in the right direction.
“Let me once again thank Community Environment and Development Network (CEDEN) and the Social Development integrated Center – Social action (SDIC-SA) and organization that funded this programme of environmental conservation through reforestation of the raffia palm tree. This is a step in the right direction, as it complements government reforms and policy in the forest sector”.
