Green Carnival: residents to plant 4.2 million trees in one month

Eme Offiong, Calabar

To fulfil the determination to provide cover against the weather and tackle climate change, the Cross River Governor, Professor Ben Ayade has given residents one month to plant 4.2 million trees.

Governor Ayade gave the charge at the 2021 wet season Green Carnival held in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, south-south Nigeria.

Ayade, who permitted civil and public servants across all ministries, departments and agencies to take the day off work and participate in the tree planting exercise, “the green carnival is for us to reduce the carbon dioxide emission; we want to reduce the carbon footprint and with Cross River State being the major backbone of Nigeria in this area having 58 percent cover, it is obvious that we continue to guarantee this leadership.”

Taking ownership

The Governor described the carnival as special and dedicated to the various ministries, departments, agencies and parastatals to take ownership of the tree planting exercise particularly within Calabar metropolis.

He said, “this programme is actually to start the planting of trees, but at the age that they will stay. We have a one month planting window and that is why we choose this period. If everyone in Cross River plants a tree that gives us 4.2 million trees just today alone. But, I have given you the opportunity to source for your trees from the ministries of environment, forestry and agriculture.

“You can also do your best to plant crops that have economic benefits as well. Crops like cocoa can grow anywhere, so you can resort to planting the cocoa tree and it will grow very well,” he urged.

Illegal logging

Concerned about the invasion of the Cross River forest by illegal loggers, the governor announced that the executive was proposing a bill, which would enable the state move away from total conservation to another acceptable management strategy.

Ayade said, “because of the massive invasion of our forest by illegal loggers. We are taking a consideration with due consultation with the State House of Assembly to change our method of forest management. Perhaps move from absolute conservation to forest management. We are going to review our forest laws to guarantee continuous planting not waiting for the green carnival.

“We are going to have an executive order followed by a bill to the house of assembly mandating every single landlord to plant a minimum of four trees per house. With such an amount of trees we will have enough cover. The last time we had a storm in Calabar, most roofs were blown off. If we had such trees, those trees would have saved millions of people the agony,” said the governor.

Ayade further spoke on the health implications of growing trees around residential buildings, urging “please plant a tree and those who have houses, please plant four trees in your premises.”

Collaborative planting

Speaking Earlier, the Commissioner for Tourism, Eric Anderson described this year’s green carnival as a major collaboration between the Ministries of Tourism and Environment.

Anderson said, “this event was originally held in December during the festivals and Governor Aayde had to move it to July because of the rains and when we plant in these parts. Secondly, we are planting trees for aesthetics of the state. We are known to have trees in our city, which creates canopies and planting these trees would increase the covers we have.”

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Environment, Mfon Bassey said the carnival would give the people the opportunity to plant new trees in the place of old ones that may have been felled or uprooted by storm.

He stated, “this carnival is giving us the opportunity to replace grown old and dsead trees. We are determined to keep our state clean and green. Everyone should strive to plant one tree each year. I will encourage the local government chairmen to encourage the people to plant trees in their areas.”

Although revelers were unable to embark on a road show along the designated carnival route, the Environment Commissioner said the tree planting exercise would be ongoing as Governor Ayade has directed.