OKPANKU AND EKOLI COMMUNITIES BAN FELLING OF TREES, PLANTS TO PLANT MILLIONS OF TREES

Some months ago many communities in Enugu State were affected by rain and windstorm which wreaked havoc in the areas, destroying property including farmlands worth millions of naira.

It also rendered many homeless, leaving them at the mercy of fate. In this special report, Radio Nigeria x-rays how the negative  impact of the rainstorm can be reduced through tree planting and measures adopted by  some affected communities to manage future occurrence.

According to the Executive Secretary, Enugu State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mrs. Nkechi Eneh trees with far reaching roots hold soil in place and fight erosion.

She adds that trees control the climate by moderating the effects of sun, rain and windstorm.

The Special Adviser to the Enugu State Governor on Rural Development and community relationship, Mr. Uchechukwu Ogbonna describes the initiative of tree planting as a must, to promote sustainable ecological system.

After counting their losses, two autonomous communities in Aninri Local Government Area, Ekoli and Okpanku, have embarked on self help to combat the effect of the natural disasters of rain and windstorm.

In a quest to safeguard their environment, the communities banned the felling of trees or deforestation, to prevent possible windstorm, flood and erosion.

According to the traditional ruler of Ekoli, Igwe Sam Ukpabi and his Okpanku counterpart, Igwe Aja Chukwu, the topography of the communities is relatively flat and exposed to constant flood at every rainy season.

Two members of the community, Justice Okereke Okereke (retired) and the President General of Ekoli Town Union, Chief Livinus Ubachukwu, say the dangers of felling trees and the benefits of trees are beyond controlling natural disasters.

According to many members of Ekoli and Okpanku communities there are plans to nurture millions of economic and ornamental trees in the next five years, to create windbreaks and reduce the impact of flood in their terrains

Already some environmental analysts are of the opinion that the strides of Ekoli and Okpanku communities are worth emulating to reduce the effect of future natural disaster in the areas.

CHUKWUMA EZEOGU