HYPREP plants 810,000 seedlings to restore Mangrove in Ogoniland

The Project Coordination Office (PCO) of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP)  said it has successfully planted over 810,726 mangrove seedlings in the first phase of its Mangrove Restoration Project in Ogoniland. 

The PCO said the initiative aimed to restore 560 hectares of mangrove areas destroyed by oil extraction activities in the region.

According to a statement released by the Project, the mangrove restoration project is still ongoing, with nine contractors currently engaged in planting efforts in Bomu, Gokana LGA.

The project also involves the removal of invasive Nipa palms that are threatening the native mangrove vegetation along the shorelines.

The PCO said the efforts mark a significant step towards revitalizing the ecosystem and promoting environmental sustainability in Ogoniland.

Also, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, Project Coordinator of HYPREP emphasized the significance of the ongoing mangrove restoration project in Ogoniland.

Zabbey said the mangroves play a crucial role in producing nutrients that support various organisms within the ecosystem and distant habitats.

He noted that the project’s focus on community engagement and empowerment underscores HYPREP’s commitment to environmental sustainability and social responsibility in Ogoniland.

He emphasized that the project’s importance lies in the restoration of essential ecosystem services, including food control, habitat provision, fish production, carbon storage, aquifer recharge, and nutrient regeneration.

Zabbey noted that HYPREP prioritizes livelihood and capacity development, citing the training of 90 Ogoni women and youths in mangrove nurseries and planting last year.

He noted that the beneficiaries, now known as Mangrove Vanguards, had established their own mangrove seedling businesses, with HYPREP contractors purchasing the seedlings, thereby, generating income and livelihoods for the community.