Mr Azibaola Robert, an Environmental Rights activist, on Monday canvassed tree planting and conservation of the rainforests of the Niger Delta to protect the biodiversity of the region.
The environmentalist
spoke during a bonfire night at his Otakeme community in the Ogbia Local
Government Area of Bayelsa.
Robert organised the
event as a part of community awareness programme to enlighten the people on the
need to conserve and protect the rainforests.
He said the event was
a follow-up to his 14-day expedition into the rainforests since October 2021,
which culminated in a documentary film being aired on some national television
stations to drive home the essence of protecting the region’s biodiversity.
Robert, a lawyer, and
entrprenuer and inventor, expressed concern over unchecked wildlife hunting and
indiscriminate logging, oil pollution, among other harmful practices depleting
the region’s flora and fauna.
Robert, Founder and
Chief Executive Officer of Zeetin Engineering, noted that the enormity of the
destruction of the region’s vast rainforests was real.
He expressed the fear
that the unborn generations might not have a green environment for their
survival.
“I am not doing this
event because I want to criticise the government for not doing enough to
protect our rainforests.
“The Niger Delta is
called the rainforest because when it rains in the communities here, it also
rains in the Niger Delta region’s forests.
“The Niger Delta has
one of the largest rainforests in the world. The largest rainforest is called
the Amazon rainforest somewhere between Brazil and other American nations. We
must protect this blessing given to us by God.” Robert said.
Robert urged the
government and the people to deliberately plant more trees to replace felled
ones, adding that without trees there was no life.
He pledged to
intensify his advocay against deforestation and environmental degradation of
the Niger Delta rainforests, to prevent a bleak future gradually worsened by
the threats of climate change.
The environmental
crusader further said: “I grew up in this community ,Otakeme as a child, and I
know certain places were named after trees. But now all those trees have been
fallen down by loggers for furniture and other things.
“Surprisingly, you
can’t find any furniture industry in this area, but can find them in areas that
don’t have the rainforests like us here.
“I’m not doing this
programme to gain anything, but to enlighten our people and create awareness on
the dangers of deforestation and the near total extinction of our biodiversity.
“I’m not too poor,
but I’m also not too rich to say I’m doing this event for any selfish gains.
“Recently myself,
members of my team and other persons, including journalists, went into the
Otakeme forest on a 14-day expedition to uncover the spate of environmental
degradation of our rainforests.
He said it was
discovered during the expedition that certain animals, trees and other
biodiversity had completely gone into extinction.
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