Ebonyi state government weekend cautioned residents against cutting down trees the state, stressing that trees are important in environmental beautification. Secretary to the state government Dr. Kenneth Ugbala said in Abakaliki while addressing members of a non -governmental organization, Environment and Earth Care Ambassadors (EECA) during their sensitization on climate change in the capital city.
He said: “In Ebonyi, we have a beautiful environment and we want to improve on it. Trees are very important not only in environmental beautification, it even help in other things that can make us enjoy good health.
“The governor has severally told us the importance of tree planting. When there carbon mono-oxide, the trees that are planted along the road take it and give it to other things that are very important to our life that is the oxygen”. He said.
Senior Special Assistant to Governor Dave Umahi, Dr. Obianuju Aloh in her remarks described climate change as global menace.
She also advocated for more tree planting in the environment to make life better.
“Climate change is a global menace which touches every facets and it is very important because one activity affects it. so, it is not about cutting trees, it is not also about burning bushes.
“So, the idea of climate change is to combat a global menace that will affect our next generation. In fact by 2030, Scientists are saying that the earth may get to up to 1.8centigrade and so, this is what we are trying to stop starting from here in Ebony state. we want to sensitizemour people, creating the awareness because most people doesn’t know what we are talking about and this is what we starting; cutting of trees, bush burning, afforestation, carbon emission.
“In our villages, most of the fruits that we are eating were planted by generations ago. Now, we want people to start planting. We want when you cut a tree, you plan tree. When you cut one, plant ten and nurture them. When you see people building on water ways, caution them that it can affect them and cause flooding”, Aloh said
By Amarachukwu EgwuAgha,
Blueprint