A non-governmental organisation, Neighbourhood Environment Watch Foundation has trained some people in Ohatekwe-Edda community, Abakaliki Local Government Area of Ebonyi State in forest management and conservation.

The Executive Director of NEW-F, Dr Kelechi Okezie, said that the training was organised in partnership with the Women Environmental Programme under the Green Livelihood Alliance.

Mr Okezie said the aim was to raise awareness about climate change and forest conservation as well as hold dialogue on production of alternative and wood efficient stoves.

He said, “The community dialogue is also aimed to strengthen the community’s resolve to mobilise and resist deforestation in their community.’’

The community dialogue which was interactive brought to the fore the need to conserve the remaining forests in the area especially ‘Ndiode and Ofia Eze’ forests.

According to participants, the two major forests in the area are seriously threatened due to population pressure on land for agriculture, building materials and fuel wood.

He stressed that with climate change, rural communities such as theirs, the elderly, sick, children and women were most vulnerable to climate change impact.

He listed the benefits of forests to include fresh air and sequestering carbon dioxide, home to many animals and organisms, providing incomes and herbs for medicines.

The environmentalist said that other benefits of forests include mitigating the impacts of climate change, serve as revered traditional religious centres with eco-religious memories, prevent soil erosion and conserve soil nutrients among others.

“I charge the community members to be intentional in safeguarding their forests and ensure yearly planting of trees,” Mr Okezie said.

Meanwhile, the traditional ruler of Ohatekwe-Edda, Ezeogo Godwin Nwankwegu, said that changes in the climatic conditions were already affecting the people adversely.

“Our livelihood, health and economic wellbeing are seriously affected by climate change due to impact of the people’s activities through cutting down of trees without replanting, and other negative activities of the people,” he said.

The traditional ruler urged his subjects to collaborate to preserve the existing forests in the area and warned against bush burning.

“The existing bye laws that prohibit unauthorised access to the forests and bush burning will be strengthened to punish offenders,” he added.

Another participant, ex-Coordinator, Enyidda Development Centre, Michael Udenwe, said that the area was once blessed with thick forest canopies, stressing how the inhabitants enjoyed the gift of nature unhindered.

He, however, lamented the extinction of indigenous plant species that provided roots and herbs for their health and wellbeing.

He regretted that many trees had been cut down, noting that the people were suffering the adverse effect of climate change.

He stated, “Now, hunger, malnutrition and poverty have set in due to the unsustainable practices and use of lands in the area.’’

He urged the people to return to tree planting as a panacea to survive the adverse effects of climate change.

Others who spoke at the occasion stressed the importance of tree planting and shunning acts that could endanger the remaining existing forests in the community.

Meanwhile, Gender Communications Officer of NEW-F, Cynthia Oru, highlighted the negative health impact of indoor cooking with fuel wood, stressing the dire health impact of such indoor cooking.

She stressed that indoor cooking with limited ventilation was a silent killer especially for women and children exposed to respiratory diseases such as asthma.

She listed other health effects to include pneumonia, headache, dizziness, heart disease and cancer.

“Cooking in ill ventilated areas especially with the use of firewood should be discouraged,” Ms Oru said.

The highlight of the dialogue was the training of participants in the use of wood conservative cooking alternatives such as rice husks, sawdust and solar cooking stoves to prepare their meals.

(NAN)