HYPREP Explains Distribution Of Cookstoves To Women

The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has given reasons for the distribution of cook stoves to Ogoni women as part of activities to mark this year’s International Mangrove Day. The day is celebrated on July 26 every year.
While marking the day, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Deinibarini Zabbey said in a statement issued in Port Harcourt that the cookstove project is a strategic initiative designed to discourage the cutting down of mangroves and reduce reliance on mangroves for fuel, thereby preserving the mangrove ecosystem.
Zabbey noted that while commemorating the day, HYPREP launched the Grow coon as a sustainable alternative to using single-use plastics to nurse mangrove seedlings and also distributed the cookstoves to Ogoni women.
He said the International Mangrove Day is dedicated to raising awareness about mangrove ecosystems’ significance, threats and sustenance, stressing that this year’s celebration was significant, as the world is halfway into the United Nations Decade of Ecosystem Restoration.
According to him, mangroves are a critical ecosystem requiring restoration and are vital for maintaining coastal biodiversity; protecting shorelines; mitigating climate change; and supporting the livelihoods of local communities.
He said mangroves provide vital resources like timber, firewood, and medicinal plants, and support fisheries production, contending that the Niger Delta, which has the largest expanse of mangroves in Africa faces significant threats of oil pollution; spread of nipa palm; unsustainable harvesting; habitat fragmentation; urbanisation(reclamation and conversion); dredging; and climate change.
The Project Coordinator revealed that HYPREP has started restoring oil-degraded mangroves in Ogoniland, with a pilot area of 560 hectares.
He further explained that HYPREP’s mandate includes the remediation of oil-polluted sites, restoration of ecosystems, provision of potable water, and improvement of livelihoods in Ogoniland.
Zabbey listed the key achievements of HYPREP relating to mangroves to include the assessment of over 3,000 hectares of oil-impacted shorelines; commencement of the clean-up of 1,747 hectares of the assessed shoreline; piloting the mangrove rehabilitation of 560 hectares; and training of 90 mangrove vanguards and supporting them in setting up mangrove nurseries.
He also disclosed that HYPREP has published user-friendly manuals for mangrove restoration in the Niger Delta, and also created and funded environment clubs in secondary schools in Ogoniland to sustain education, awareness and sensitisation on the risks of wetland degradation.
Zabbey noted that while significant progress has been made so far, the future of mangrove conservation in Ogoniland and the Niger Delta depends on sustained efforts and commitment from various stakeholders, including the government, local communities, NGOs, and the private sector.
He said ensuring the long-term health and resilience of the mangrove ecosystems in Ogoniland and the Niger Delta requires key strategies, saying HYPREP would continue to encourage sustainable land use and management practices and also continues to empower local communities to participate actively in mangrove conservation.
Zabbey said it would also continue to support research and innovation on mangrove ecology, restoration techniques, and the impacts of pollution, which are essential for developing effective conservation strategies.
According to him, innovative approaches and technologies can enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of remediation efforts.
He said sustainable income is another key strategy required for the health and resilience of the mangrove ecosystems in Ogoniland and the Niger Delta, adding that HYPREP is working towards baseline carbon sequestration data in coastal communities on the carbon credit market.
According to him, with the collaboration of other stakeholders, this opportunity would grant communities access to sustainable income for social development.
Commenting on the international collaboration strategy, he said global cooperation and partnerships can provide the technical expertise, financial resources and knowledge exchange needed to support mangrove conservation in Ogoniland.
“International organisations and donor agencies play a key role in supporting local efforts. Through sustained commitment, and collaborative action, it is possible to restore the health of mangrove ecosystems, secure the livelihoods of local communities, and ensure a resilient future for Ogoniland and the Niger Delta,” he said.

Donatus Ebi