Cross River State declares public holiday to plant trees

 

By Christian Njoku

Cross River State government Monday declared July 30 a public holiday for the planting of one million trees, in a ceremony known as the Green Carnival.

A statement in Calabar by the Permanent Secretary, State Security Office, Dr Alfred Mboto, stated that major routes in Calabar will be closed to motorists from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the tree planting.

Mboto said that the closure was to give way to the green carnival train to freely move round the state capital and plant trees in designated spots.

The permanent secretary stressed that the state government hoped for strict compliance to this directive.

He said the areas in Calabar that would be closed included Botanical Garden Road, Target Road, Mary Slessor Avenue from Bogobiri to the College of Health Tech gate.

Also, to be blocked are Marian Road, IBB Way and Calabar Road and Transcorp Hotel Roundabout.

Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River had last Wednesday declared July 30, a public holiday for the planting of one million trees.

The governor said setting aside a day for tree planting “underscores our readiness for the REDD+ and commitment to forest conservation and management.”

REDD+ is Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation, plus the sustainable management of forests, and the conservation and enhancement of forest carbon stocks.

It is also an essential part of the global efforts to mitigate climate change and FAO is supporting developing countries in their REDD+ processes. (NAN)