Worried by the high rate of deforestation, environmentalists have raised alarm on an imminent climate change disaster in Cross River state, if urgent measures are not taken.
This warning came recently from a Non-Governmental Agency from Kenya, Mainyoito Pastoralist Integrated Development Organization (MPIDO) and Wise Administration of Terrestrial Environment and Resources (WATER) in Calabar during a working tour to Okokori community in Obubra Local Government Area of the state.
While narrating his community’s ordeal in Kenya after losing all its forests to climate change, Mr. Elijah Toirai, a member of MPIDO, a sponsor agency to WATER, said communities should create other means of livelihood that would not lead to deforestation.
“Climate change is real and has caused so many harms to communities in Kenya.
“This is not something that is affecting only Okokori community because I am a living witness to climate change in my country. I speak from experience, we live in a dry place because we have burned down all the tress in my community and used for charcoal, which we sold to earn money. Right now we are suffering from that ignorance. In fact, the last time it rained was last year December. You are still lucky to have your forest but if you don’t take care of your environment, you will suffer the same fate as my community,”he said.
Equally expressing concern, the Programme Coordinator of WATER, Chief Edwin Ogar presented Information, Education and Communication materials like T-shirts, flyers and posters with key climate change messages on climate change to members of Okokori community in Obubra council of the state to improve knowledge of Okokori and others indigenous people on the causes of climate change, effects and mitigation measures.
The Community Women Leader, Mrs. Emilia Joseph, said the community has been working towards achieving the fight against deforestation through setting up of a task force and called for financial support.