By Blessing Enagu
Upon inauguration of the Tree Planting Committee by the Cross River state governor, Senator Ben Ayade, the Chairman of the Committee and immediate past Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon. Stella Odey-Ekpo, has swung into action targeted at actualizing the vision of planting 5 million trees across the State.
In an interactive meeting with the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Climate Change and Forestry/ Chairman, REDD+ State Technical Committee, Mr. Timothy Ogbang Akwaji and the State REDD+ Coordinator, Mr. Patrick Coco Bassey, held today in the Permanent Secretary’s office, the Chairman, Tree planting committee noted that the task is in tandem with the Governor’s drive on climate change mitigation in the state and it is also to enhance the State’s aesthetics.
Hon. Odey noted that the committee would take advantage of the rainy season as well as mainstream the Forestry Commission, Ministry of Environment, Civil Societies and other relevant stakeholders in the exercise. “No stone would be left unturned in carrying out the ad hoc assignment”, she added.
In response, the Permanent Secretary, Climate Change and Forestry Ministry, Mr Timothy Ogbang Akwaji, applauded her enthusiasm and optimism on the task ahead.
He maintained that the vision is also in line with the Ministry’s mandate and pledged to support the realization of the vision.
In the same vein, the State REDD+ Coordinator, Mr. Patrick Coco Bassey lauded the vision, noting that it cuts across the objectives of REDD+ program which include reforestation and conservation; all targeted at climate change mitigation and adaptation.
He explained further that trees play vital role in purifying the atmosphere, the more the trees, the higher the carbon sequestration and the better the environment.
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