NDWPD, WEP, WECF Calls for action against land grabbing, forest degradation

Nobel Delta Women for Peace and Development International (NWPD) in collaboration with Women Environmental Program (WEP) and Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF) have called for actions against land grabbing and forest degradation in the South-South region of Nigeria.

The call was made at a press conference held at Asaba, tagged “ Land Grabbing and it’s Impact on Forest resources and Gender Equality.”

The executive Director of NDWPD, Amb. Caroline Usikpedo-Oliseowe, explained that women loose their means of livelihood when agricultural lands are forcefully taken and redistributed by government or transferred to foreign collaborators under the guise of development.

Observing that women are also neglected in forest governance, she said that  an assessment carried out on the impact of land grabbing in Kwale, Umusadege and Ogbe-Ani Communities in Ndokwa West LGA of Delta State revealed that “ land grabbing activities in farming communities has brought more negative influence in areas of displacement, dispossession, loss of sources of income, human rights violation, environmental degradation and so on”

She added that ” deforestation is not only the causing climate change, but also contributing further  to deforestation and  forest degradation, setting in motion a vicious cycle with deforestation”

Responding to a question on her personal effort against land grabbing and forest degradation, Amb. Oliseowe maintained that her Organization has carried out series of advocacy visits to traditional rulers and other stakeholders in many communities with a view to discourage bush burning, felling of trees  land grabbing and encourage the participation of women in decision making.

Listing ways of addressing the issue of land grabbing and forest degradation, she said “ Governments and all relevant stakeholders must implement actions that will address land grabbing and forest degradation in South-South and Nigeria in general.
“There is need for adequate public enlightenment about the issues of land grabbing and their connections with climate change, and therefore call on relevant stakeholders to act to prevent this menace.

“ women must be recognized as critical stakeholders and they should be consulted for their inputs in any Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the community and any investors; be it government or private investors before signing any agreement.

“For gender equality and inclusion, Women should be included in the negotiating team with any investors coming to the community

”The community leadership as a way of Corporate Social Responsibility, should liaise with the investors to provide equitable secondary livelihoods in form of skills acquisition training, grants and loans schemes for the women/adolescent girls and boys to assuage the loss of their farm lands and not for selfish gains.

“ There should be training and capacity building for the Community leadership on forest preservation, Governance / strategic Leadership, Women in Peace building, Communication, Iobbying, Negotiation, Mediation and Conflict handling styles.

“Communities should be empowered to embark on tree planting exercises in order to avoid our forest going into extinction, boost economic activities and livelihood enhancement as well as conservation of our rich biodiversity.”

On her part, the Executive Director for Community Empowerment Development Initiative (CEDI), Mrs Marta Onose  noted that deforestation can be  discouraged through provision of an alternative means of livelihood for those rely on forest  proceeds  to eke a living.

Mrs Onose further added that law against forest degradation can enacted while placing sanction on those who continue to indulge in such act.