Environmental experts and activists have prescribed nature based solutions such as tree planting to help humans reduce the impacts of climate change and build better communities.
They made the call at a One-Day Workshop on Tree Planting Project organized by the Department of Environmental Management, Niger Delta University, Amassoma, Bayelsa State.
The theme of the programme was ‘Tree Planting for Carbon Offsetting: Nexus for Climate Resilience’.
Delivering a keynote lecture at the event, the Director, Bio-Resources Development Centre, Odi, Dr. Timipanipiri Wood said climate change driven by increased greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, industrialization and urban expansion as well as fossil fuel combustion and oil pollution presents one of the pressing challenges of the 21st Century.
He noted that with consequences such as persistent flooding, sea level rise, desertification, loss of biodiversity and extreme weather conditions, there was the need to strengthen national afforestation programmes, promote mangrove restoration in the Niger Delta and establish carbon credit frameworks to address the situation.
Vice Chancellor, Niger Delta University, Professor Allen Agih, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics, Professor Jonah Akekere while declaring the workshop open said tree planting would benefit future generations.
The Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Professor Sylvester Ebigbagha and the Head of Department, Dr. Meshack Ojile emphasized that tree planting plays a major role in carbon offsetting alongside several nutritional, medicinal, economic and ecological values.
While the Technical Adviser to the Bayelsa Governor on Environment, Chief Alagoa Morris reiterated the State government’s commitment to tackling indiscriminate logging and felling of trees, the Programme Manager of the Environmental Conservation Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Henry Adike stressed the need for synergy from stakeholders in addressing issues relating to the environment.
Highpoint of the programme was the planting of trees at the Botanical Gardens of the Niger Delta University.
