In continuation of its Strengthening Local Advocacy Against Climate Change, the Neighbourhood Environment Watch Foundation planted 500 tree seedlings at Ogada-Edda and Ohatekwe Edda communities in Abakaliki LGA of Ebonyi State.
The programme aims at mobilising local actions against climate change and inspires actions towards forest conservation and sustainable environments.
The Executive Director of the environmental non-governmental organisation, Dr Kelechukwu Okezie, emphasised the need for preserving indigenous trees and called on the community members to nurture the trees, as their economic, social and environmental benefits are enormous.
He called for strategic and intentional management of the forests and their biodiversity, realising the enormous benefits humanity stands to gain from such action.
The communities donated their lands for the trees.
Speaking as a stakeholder of the community, Chief Michael Udenwe thanked the NGO for their commitment to protecting the environment and decried that a local tree called “akparata” has gone into extinction due to the activities of Chinese people who deceived the people into cutting and selling to them this hardwood, such that today, the akparata tree is no longer seen in any part of the community.
He thanked the Neighbourhood Environment Watch Foundation for reintroducing the tree and for other economic trees and assured them of their protection and nurture to maturity.
Other economic trees planted include oranges, native pear, soursop, and coconut.