By Abel Johngold Orheruata
With the identification of climate change as one of the key challenges affecting both the rich and the poor, including communities, a non governmental organization (NGO), known as Noble Delta Women For Peace And Development International (NDWPD), has called on relevant stakeholders to ensure inclusion of women in Forest management to address the impact of climate change.
The NGO, led by Amb. Caroline Usikpedo-Oliseowe, made the call in Asaba during a press conference on forest conservation and gender with the theme, “Gender and Forest Conservation: the impact of women’s participation in community Forest Governance”.
While noting that women were critical actors in management of forest resources, Amb. Oliseowe, charged stakeholders to ensure women enjoyed their rights and safe participation in social movements.
“Ensure Indigenous People and Local Community (IPLCs) are implementing gender inclusive and sustainable forest governance and livelihood strategies. Government and Agro-commodities, extractive, energy, and infrastructure sector no longer drive deforestation,” she said.
“Despite global commitments to fight climate change and save the world’s forest, deforestation and forest degradation continue to take place at alarming rates,” She added.
Amb. Oliseowe, who challenged stakeholders to act now and do what must be done quickly to save mother Earth, added that climate change was real, saying that the NDWPD was a non-governmental organisation in special consultative status with the United Nations ECOSOC, accredited to the United Nations Environmental Programme and the Green Climate Fund, based in Delta State with the vision to empower the Niger Delta women and the vulnerable in the region and for the promotion and realisation of their rights.