NGOs’ Coalition Plants Tree Crops In Cross River
BY UBON EKANEM – A Coalition of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) has embarked on a massive tree planting campaign in Cross River to cushion the degrading effects of illegal logging activities in the state.
The Green Concern for Development (GREENCODE), which led the environmentally friendly tree planting campaign to designated locations within the state capital, justified their choice of edible plants for this year’s campaign on the importance of raising public awareness about the benefits of being environmentally friendly.
The Program Officer for GREENCODE, Mrs Ekei Joseph who led the campaign stated that they are concerned over the devastating ecological effect of deforestation activities being perpetrated in the state.
Mrs Ekei Joseph also pointed out that apart from ecological problems that are currently confronting the state due to deforestation activities, their focus for this year’s campaign is to raise public awareness around the significant benefits of being environmental friendly through the planting of tree crops to compliment the high rate of carbohydrates based foods consumption which is prevalent among the people.
On the choice of a worship institution like the St, Bernard Catholic Church, Marian Hill in Calabar for the exercise, the Green Concern program officer said in as much as the initiative would add aesthetic value to the Church vicinity, the psychological factor is equally important.
According to her, in this circumstance, most worshippers would be attracted to the value chain associated with the different species and variety of tree crops chosen for planting around the Church premises.
She further explained that the ceremony also coincided with the Golden Jubilee celebration of the GREENCODE’s Country Environmental Director, Comrade Pastor Edem Okon Edem, who is currently on an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) tour of the North East geo-political zone in view of the devastating effect of the Boko Haram insurgency activities, as it relates to anti-environmental friendly activities.
Among the tree crops planted by the Coalition include Guava, Oil palm, Pawpaw, Coconut, Mango, Oranges (Citrus), Plantain, Banana, Coffee, and Parkia
Other grassroots organizations that complemented the laudable effort of Green Concern in the tree planting campaign, are Peace Point Development Foundation (PPDF), Edem Children Foundation (ECF), and EIS Recycles Peace Initiative.
This year’s campaign slogan of ‘Trees for Humanity and Environmental Social Justice’ is specifically targeted at promoting public awareness of the benefits of trees on human existence.
