Prof. Olusuyi Fabiyi. a lecturer at the Department of Forestry and Wood Technology at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), has said that the Okonla Mangrove Ecosystem Restoration Project (MERP) will contribute to mitigating climate change.
Fabiyi, who is also Coordinator of the Centre for Human Settlements and Sustainable Development (CHUSSDEV), spoke in Okonla, Ilaje Local Government, during the implementation of the project supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
According to him, โthe 10,000 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide (COโ) annually removed by the project is equivalent to emissions from 150,000 cars.โ
He added that the initiative would restore degraded mangroves while providing sustainable livelihoods for the community.
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Fabiyi noted that residents had been trained in raising mangroves from nurseries to planting and care, while youths and women were introduced to aquaculture. โThey were empowered with floating cages, fingerlings, and fish feed to support them and improve their livelihoods,โ he said.
Dr Adetoun Olaitan, who represented the National Coordinator of the UNDP Global Environment Facility Small Grant Programme, said communities were best placed to lead environmental action. She stressed that grassroots-driven projects offered global benefits.
Prof. O.V. Oyerinde of FUTA highlighted the empowerment of women through the โgreen goldโ initiative, which promotes non-timber products such as snails, vegetables, and eco-friendly leaves to replace plastics and generate household income.
Okonlaโs traditional ruler, Oba Okun Akinbulejo, expressed gratitude on behalf of his people. โWe thank UNDP and CHUSSDEV for choosing Okonla. Our people will protect these mangrove areas so future generations can reap their benefits,โ he said.
Story was adapted from NAN.
