We will use mangroves to mitigate climate change in Niger Delta, says HYPREP
Nelson Chidiebere
The Project Coordination Office of Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project(HYPREP) has said one of the reasons the project is investing in mangroves, planting, restoration, and conservation is to mitigate climate change.
HYPREP Project Coordinator, Professor Nenibarini Zabbey while addressing newsmen after emerging from a stakeholders’ meeting with community members at Bomu Community in Gokana Council Area of the state, yesterday, said the environmental and economic value can not be over-emphasized. According to him, Mangroves are very important because they act as sinks of carbon, saying mangroves conserve carbon five times more than tropical rainforests. He regretted the effect of oil exploration over-harvesting and cutting down of the mangroves have on the environment, saying these activities are the reason for coastal erosion, shortage of aquatic life, and several others.
He noted that as a way of reducing the impact and effect of climate change on this part of the world, the project is focusing on mangrove restoration and conservation to not only mitigate climate change but also to create a value chain for community members to explore the numerous usefulness of mangroves.
“In terms of the environment, it is a huge carbon sink. Mangroves help in protecting the shorelines against coastal erosion. That will tell you the contributions mangroves have made to our daily lives without us appreciating it. Mangroves are very important because they act as sinks of carbon. Mangroves conserve carbon five times more than tropical rain forests, ” he said.
Zabbey, however, stated that following the importance of mangroves the project is training over 2000 shoreline protection, environmental remediation, and mangrove restoration workers in Ogoniland. He further disclosed that the community workers will assist over 34 contractors working on shoreline protection in the area, adding that they are undergoing a two-week training and will get International Maritime Organisation, IMO, Certification 1&2 saying they are expected to work on over 460 hectares of mangroves in the area.
“The clean up we are doing in Ogoni is people-centered, it’s inclusive and following international best practice. For you to qualify to work in a wetland, in the creeks, in the shoreline, you need International Maritime Organisation, IMO, Certification 1&2, and that’s what this training is all about,” he said.
