"Our mangroves that provide protection from wind and rain storms causing our fishes to produce well and which act as buffers to erosion are being destroyed rapidly. Now we cannot predict our seasons anymore and this has led to poor crop yields. We attribute all these to 'Iphen obhina'."
"Our mangroves that
provide protection from wind and rain storms causing our fishes to produce well
and which act as buffers to erosion are being destroyed rapidly. Now we cannot
predict our seasons anymore and this has led to poor crop yields. We attribute
all these to 'Iphen Obhina'".
(Which means climate change in Iko language) said Chief Nelson, the community
head of Iko-Esai in Akampa Local Government Area of Cross River State).
The above story is
not too different from what is obtainable in other communities in this zone.
Hear what Chief Jacob Offiong, the village head of Akwa Esuk-Iyamba Akpabuyo Local Government area of Cross
River State has to say, -Between 1980 to 1995 we had enough fish in our rivers
and streams, but look at it now: most fishermen return from fishing empty
handed without a single fish in their net because of the 'Ukpo hore-nkpo'
(meaning climate that has changed in Efik language). Our farm yield has also
reduced in recent times compared to before.
Mrs. Ukoyo Okon of
Esuk Idebe in Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State told the
BNRCC monitoring team that visited the communities recently that women are not
left out of the impact of climate change as she narrated their ordeal: 'we
sense something is really wrong. Our farmlands are now been flooded leading to
poor crop yield. The palm and kola nut trees are fast drying up and we have not
experienced this type of thing before. The same size of yam we planted last
year is what we harvested and now we have to start looking for alternative
means of livelihood to survive'.
These stories vary
and seem endless as one move from one community to another in this zone. These
communities are deploying all their efforts at finding local strategies to
adapt to these noticeable changes. Six communities namely: Bebi, Ekumpou-wula,
Akwa Esuk-iyamba, Esuk Idebe and Agoi ibami all in Cross River State are
presently working with three organizations CERCOPAN, DIN and COLIN with support from BNRCC to explore
alternative livelihoods as means of climate change adaptation strategies. Some
of the actions so far taken by these organizations and the communities include:
i. Establishment and strengthening of Community
Conservation and Development Committee in Iko Esai;
ii. Strengthening of the Forest
Management Committee in Iko-Esai;
iii. Construction of community fish ponds
in Akwa Esuk-Iyamba and Esuk-Idebe;
iv. Strengthening the Land Use Plan in
the target communities; and
v. Aquaculture management, bee keeping,
grass cutter and afang farming, bush mango domestication among others.
For details of these
and other work on these projects please contact www.cercopan.org.
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