Why Akwa Ibom Government must not use Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve for Carbon Credit, Refinery- HOMEF
Photo: Executive Director of HOMEF, Nnimmo Bassey.
By Ekemini Simon
Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) has called on the Government of Akwa Ibom State to discard plans of using the Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve for carbon credit.
The organisation has also asked that the construction of a refinery at the Stubbs Creek be immediately discontinued for the safety of nearby communities and the interest of the environment.
It could be recalled that the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Umo Eno had recently disclosed plans to use the Stubbs creek forest reserve for carbon credit. Also, the construction of a 200000 kPd petrochemical refinery at the Stubbs Creek by BUA group is ongoing with commencement of operations expected this year.
Speaking in Uyo on Wednesday to journalists at the sidelines of the School of Ecology tagged” Weaning from Fossil Addiction and Healing Territories”, the Executive Director of Health of Mother Earth Foundation, Nnimmo Bassey said although the deal of using the Stubbs Creek forest reserve for carbon trading may appear attractive for the government since some income will be received, the initiative is a false solution to global warming.
Bassey explained that Akwa Ibom State government going into the deal will only embolden the major polluters especially from rich countries to evade climate action while the poorer communities including communities in Akwa Ibom State will suffer the impact of climate change with a few coins as compensation.
He said ” The reality is that carbon trading brings little or nothing to the communities accepting it. It rather brings harm to the communities. What the carbon cowboys are going to bring is just an exchange of papers, rather than the polluters carrying out the real climate action. The real climate action will now be taken by the poor forest dependent communities. These are those who are going to protect the work by keeping the forest. But keeping the forest is what the communities have always done. They depend on the forest.”
Bassey said beyond the carbon credit, there is urgent need for the government to stop de-reservation of the Stubbs Creek forest reserve for a refinery.
The Executive Director explained that besides the health danger such as cancer among other diseases the refinery will pose to nearby communities around the Stubbs Creek, the unique biodiversity of the forest reserve will be destroyed.
Bassey who pointed out that refineries should not be located anywhere near communities due to its dangers alluded to the United States of America where the area designated for refineries are clearly called cancer or death alley.
He advised the government to move beyond thinking that the Stubbs Creek forest reserve belongs to the government rather it belongs to the people hence the need to maintain it for what it is; a reserve.
The HOMEF’s Director recommended that the State Government should rather use the Stubbs Creek forest reserve to drive tourism for cleaner resources.
He added “People like to come to Akwa Ibom State. Let them come and see a place that is nice. Not to come to a place that is now used for carbon trading. With carbon trading at Stubbs Creek, you don’t see the trees as trees, you see them as carbon.
“We have to change that mentality. Those selling the carbon credit are promoting it for the polluters, oil companies and the industrialised nations who have caused the climate crisis we find ourselves in. Their aim is to avoid climate action but throw a few coins to poor communities and dependent governments.”.