NGO trains Communities on forest management, protection in C’River 

From Ene Asuquo, Calabar 

A Non Governmental Organization, “Save The Earth Initiative” weekend organized a training workshop on capacity building on forest Management education for communities in Akpabuyo local government area of Cross River state. 

According to the project coordinator, Victoria Ukpong, she said the training has become necessary for forest communities in the state so as to improve their understanding on climate change adaptation and mitigation also increase community ability to advocate for forest conservation and reduce deforestation of mangrove forests 

“We have noticed that Esuk Mbat and Ikot Okon Okpo are among those Communities where we have a lot of deforestation activities, that is why we have chosen to come to the community to educate them on the dangers of deforestation and how they can conserve their forest and adapt to climate change” she said.

The program facilitator, Okoho Ene said that for the campaign against deforestation to be successful, they have to engage the locals, educate them properly on the effects of human activities in our forest that causes climate change 

“For us to carry out the campaign successfully, we have to strengthen the local actions in the communities, in preserving and conserving their forest like we are doing today in Esuk Mbat and Ikot Okon Okpo Communities in Akpabuyo local government” 

She also stated that in conserving their forest, there is need for the local communities to strengthen their local laws regarding indiscriminate cutting of tress by way of making small bye laws in other to manage their forest effectively 

Ene also emphasized on the need for communities to create awareness against deforestation adding that forest is a vital part of their lives hence the need to protect it.

A community leader, madam Awo Ekanem said shortly after the training workshop that with what the have been thought at the training, she knows what to do in preserving the forest in her community 

“they have thought us on how to adjust and adapt to climate change, and have also been told on the dangers of bush burning which we did not know before, now that we know we are going to stop it forthwith,” she maintained.

Another community leader, the deputy village head of Esuk Mbat, chief Emmanuel Daniel Effiong said he was particularly happy with the NGO for the training workshop and the knowledge he has acquired.

“I’am very grateful to the organizers of this training today, it has impacted a lot of things in me, I have known what I did not know before concerning deforestation and it effects in my community,” he maintained.