Andy Essiet, Calabar
A coalition of Non governmental Organizations (NGOs) have embarked on a massive tree planting campaign in Cross River to cushion the degrading effects of illegal logging activities in the state.
The Green Concern for Development (GREENCODE) that led the environmental friendly tree planting campaign recently in Calabar to designated locations within the state capital, justified their choice of edible plants for this year’s campaign on the importance of raising public awareness on the benefits of being environmentally friendly,.
The Programme Officer for GREENCODE, Mrs, Ekei Joseph who led the campaign stated that they are concerned over the devastating ecological effect of deforestation activities being perpetrated in the state,.
Joseph also pointed out that apart from ecological problems which the state is being exposed to undue deforestation activities, their focus for this year’s campaign is to raise public awareness on the significant benefits of being environmentally friendly through the planting of tree crops to compliment the high rate of carbohydrates based foods consumption which is prevalent among our people.
On the choice of a worship institution like the St, Bernard Catholic Church Marian Hill Calabar for the exercise, the GREENCODE programme officer, noted that in as much as the initiative would add aesthetic value to the church vicinity,the psychological factor is equally important as most worshippers would be attracted to the value chain associated with the different species of the variety of tree crops chosen for planting around the church premises.
She however acknowledged the fact that the ceremony coincided with the golden jubilee celebration of their Country Environmental Director, Comrade Edem Okon Edem, who is currently on an environmental impact assessment of the North East geo-political zone in view of the devastating effect of the Boko Haram insurgency activities as it relates to anti environmental friendly activities,.
Other grassroots organizations which collaborated with GREENCODE in the tree planting campaign, are Peace Point Development Foundation (PPDF), Edem Children Foundation (ECF) and EIS Recycles Peace Initiative and most of tree crops planted include, guaver, palm, oranges, paw paw, coconut and oil bean trees among others
This year’s campaign slogan of ” Trees for Humanity and Environmental Social Justice was specifically targeted at promoting public awareness on the benefits of trees on human existence,
