Climate change: Cross River establishes Young Green Brigade

He said the formation of the brigade was to illustrate the importance and resoluteness his government attaches to the reforestation of the state.
He maintained that it was an effort to cushion the impact of climate change on the people, adding that those to be recruited to join the brigade would essentially be taught, and they too, would teach people and ensure that everyone is interested in planting and sustaining assorted trees in the state.
“The essence of this is to ensure comprehensive reforestation.  It is part of the comprehensive forest reserve programme my administration is bringing up to reposition our forests, now being depleted. The Young Green Brigade will also support the horticultural centre, which is part of our intention to enhance our forest reserve programme to cushion the effects of climate change for the good of man. The horticultural centre will generate trees and flowers.
“As part of our intention to ‘green-cap’ Cross River State through planting of trees, there will be an aspect of the annual Calabar Carnival which would be called Green Carnival.  Everyone coming for the annual carnival would do so with his own specie of tree, and we shall all move around in what would be called Green March, displaying such tree.
“The carnival participant would also be expected to plant such tree so that next time he comes around he would visit the tree and nurture it,” Ayade explained.