By Barikui Felix
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, HYPREP, has called on indigenes of the Niger Delta and all coastal communities to protect the mangroves in their domain.
Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Professor Nenibarini Zabbey, gave charge in a a statement to mark this year’s World Mangrove Day.
Zabbey, who noted that mangroves play a crucial role in coastal ecosystems by providing habitat for a diverse array of species, protecting shorelines from erosion and maintains water quality, also sequester carbon and render cultural and spiritual services.
On the theme of this year’s World Mangrove Day which is; “Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future,” the HYPREP PC said it reflects the role of mangroves in maintaining environmental integrity, regulating the climate, providing socio-economic support, and conserving biodiversity.
He reaffirmed HYPREP’s commitment to safeguarding mangroves, calling on Nigerians to support nature-based solutions that integrate science and indigenous knowledge.
“We urge Nigerians to support nature-based solutions that integrate science and indigenous knowledge, invest in women’s and youth education, and promote sustainable livelihoods tied to a healthy ecosystem.
“On this World Mangrove Day, let us become guardians of the Niger Delta mangroves, protecting our wetlands not just for today, but for posterity and humanity,” Zabbey said.
Commenting on HYPREP’s effort in restoring degraded Ogoni environment, Zabbey said: ” The project has completed 93% of the Phase 1 mangrove restoration project in the Bomu Creek, covering 560 hectares.
“We have planted 1,393,223 multi-species mangrove seedlings, mimicking the natural zonation and relative proportion of the five species of mangrove planted.
“Our ecologically sound mangrove restoration efforts have also led to the removal of the invasive nipa palm in the rehabilitated areas”.
He announced that after over a year of restorative planting, signs of environmental and biodiversity recovery are becoming evident, as some of the planted black mangrove saplings are beginning to flower and produce propagules, adding that the area has recorded the gradual recovery of crabs, shrimps, oysters, dogwhelks, periwinkles, and mudskipper, among other indicative species.
On job creation, Zabbey said the HYPREP mangrove restoration project has created over 600 direct jobs for Ogoni youth and women, who are involved in planting and monitoring mangrove seedlings/saplings.
He said the mangrove vanguards trained by HYPREP and supported with grants nursed and supplied the mangrove seedlings to the restorative planting contractors, which he said has amplified the livelihood contribution of the Ogoni mangrove restoration project.
The PC assured that HYPREP will expand the mangrove restoration to other communities in Ogoniland as part of its Phase 2 mangrove restoration project, planned to commence in the fourth quarter of 2025, while stating that the Project
have also embarked on sensitising local communities on the need to protect mangroves.
Furthermore, HYPREP Saud it has distributed some clean cookstoves as part of a pilot project aimed at reducing dependence on mangrove wood for cooking.
Speaking on other efforts of the Project, Zabbey said HYPREP is exploring the possibility of partnering with civil society organisations and development agencies to ensure the sustainability of the rehabilitated mangroves in Ogoniland through sustained sensitisation and creating alternative livelihood opportunities, while also seeking a declaration of the restored mangroves in Ogoniland as a Ramsar Site, which is one of the UNEP report’s recommended actions.
