A Non Governmental Organisation, Elim, a Christian Vocational Training Centre has flagged off a three-year tree planting programme at the weekend in Naka, Gwer West Local Government Area. The act is aimed at mitigating against negative impact of climate change on some communities in the area.
Tagged “Enabling resilience to climate change related risks through local civil society organisations’ strengthening in Benue State”, the state Programme Coordinator, Mrs. Mimi Dzever told beneficiaries that the programme was the organisation’s little way of bringing succour to the communities that have been ravaged by natural disasters.
She explained that her organisation had carried out needs assessment from the affected communities during which they were told which trees were needed by each community.
The trees which comprise assorted economic trees such as mango, cashew, pears, banana, oil palm and guava according to her, were to be planted in phases with the first phase beginning in 2023 from Konshisha and Gwer West Local Government Areas.
She said the choice of the two local government areas as pilot local governments was arrived at due to high rate of annual flooding in the case of Konshisha and massive deforestation in the case of Gwer West Local Government thus, exposing the environment to high degradation.
Speaking during the occasion, the acting Ter Nagi, Mue Ter Chief Lawrence Ijir charged his subjects to embrace the programme with all seriousness which according to him will go a long way in salvaging environmental degradation.
Accompanied to the occasion by his chiefs, the royal father who revealed that the programme was the first of its kind in the area, advised benefiting communities to always ensure availability of water to the trees even during dry season to ensure their survival as well as guard against thieves.
In a remark, the chairman Gwer West Local Government Council, Mrs. Veronica Kwaghbo who was represented by the Head, Personnel and Administration, Mr. Vincent Adegh said it was a rare privilege to be among the benefiting local government areas in the state and promised that the programme will be given priority attention.
There was symbolic tree planting by the acting Ter Nagi, Chief Lawrence Ijir and representative of the council chairman to mark the official flag off.
