Environmentalist raises alarm over indiscriminate ,illegal logging says it’s a huge threat to the ecosystem
The Head of Environmental Rights Action (ERA), Bayelsa State Office, Mr Alagoa Morris says indiscriminate and illegal logging is a huge threat to the ecosystem which is capable of destabilizing the food chain in the Niger Delta region.
Alagoa Morris stated this in Okpoama during a sensitization campaign on the importance of tree planting organized by Woso Woso Friends of Okpoama, in Brass Local Government of Bayelsa State.
He said trees connect us to nature; provide medicine and food; serves as home to animals; reduce the impact of strong winds and ultimately provide oxygen for human consumption, adding that tree felling should be done in sustainable manner in order to keep the forest intact.
Alagoa noted that the Woso Woso Friends have set an example for other communities to emulated and called on the State and Brass Local Governments to collaborate with them to plant more trees in other areas to tackle deforestation.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Environment, Mr Iselema Gbaranbiri represented by the Director of Forestry, Mr Festus Egba urged the organizers of the tree planting campaign to nurture the trees planted to maturity to reverse the negative trend of deforestation.
The Environment Commissioner said the State Government had initiated policies and programmes to tackle illegal logging, stating that the impact will be felt in the near future.
The Ibeyanaowei of Okpoama Kingdom, King Ebitimi Banigo who also graced the occasion said he was delighted to see young people have concern for the environment and initiated such impactful project within his kingdom.
He described the Woso Woso Friends as change makers in this era of climate change as World Leaders struggle to reverse its impact.
Speaking to reporters at the end of the event, the President of Woso Woso Friends, Mr Lucky Sam Igbeta said the initiative was born out of the desire to make a lasting impact as a group of friends with a vision to promote environmental sustainability.
He however, commended the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr David Alagoa for donating a thousand hybrid palm trees to support the initiative and other tree donors for their support.
High point of the occasion was the planting of trees by the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Rtd. Colonel Milland Dixon Dikio, His Majesty, King Ebitimi Banigo, Okpo XXI, President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Daniel Ayah, the Amananaowei of Azuzuama, His Royal Highness, King Selky Kile Torughedi and the Representative of Brass Constituency II in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Hon. Timi Omubo Agala among others.
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