Group trains 550 on climate change in Cross River State

Worried by the level of deforestation and ignorance on climate change, a non-governmental organisation has trained about 550 persons on how to sustain the forest and its environment in Cross River State.

Organised by Wise Administration of Terrestrial Environment (WATER) with support from Forest Carbon Partnership Facility and Mainyoito Pastoralist Integrated Development Organisation, the programme held in five different communities created awareness on climate change with focus on conservation, climate change, livelihoods, rural development and environmental justice.

Speaking at the five-day event held in Agoi Ekpo, Agoi Ibami, Etarra, Ekuri and Okokori communities, Programme Coordinator of WATER, Chief Edwin Ogar said: “We are doing climate change awareness creation in these communities because they are not aware about climate issues.

“Climate change is human induced and they have to intervene and reduce climate change in their respective communities”, he said.On how to sustain the forest, Ogar told the participants that, “you can contribute to the reduction of climate change by doing a land use plan for the community forest as well as trying to regenerate the forest naturally.”

In an interview session after the various training programmes, Ogar said about 550 participants drawn from the five communities were trained. One of the participants and a clan head of Ibinidian in Agoi Ibami, Yakurr Local council, Chief Ibi Akpama, expressed happiness with the training saying it will help them check deforestation in their community

Another participant and clan head of Agoi Ekpo, Attah-Ikum Oyira Onong, said with the training of people the community will discontinue deforestation.