Benue Environmental Conservation Initiative

From all of us as Benue Hike Group

Congratulations to TheSixth Kusugh
Official photographer of the Speaker Benue State House of Assembly. Bigger things await you bro! Be deligent in this too.

Introducing the Mount Mkar Conservation Project

```Why is Important?```

The Mkar mountain is fast losing its ecosystems and biodiversity majorly through Human activities which includes but not limited to, indiscriminate tree felling, adoption of harmful farming practices, overhunting, indiscriminate dumping of plastics and non-biodegradable substances on the mountain, encroachment, bush burning amongst other nefarious practices and traditions.

The loss of species and ecosystems can result in the loss of cultural heritage, traditional knowledge and spiritual connections to nature. Increased vulnerability to natural disasters: Healthy, diverse ecosystems can help protect human communities from natural disasters, such as floods, storms and landslides.

Let's not forget that we share the earth with other living things whose habitats and life cycle we are disruption, threatening their survival and existence

This project therefore is part of efforts by the Benue Hike Tourism and Conservation (BHTCF) Foundation through the Benue Environmental Conservation Initiative (BECI) seeking to preserve our natural spaces.

By achieving a Conservation Status for the mountain, many of the above mentioned practices will cease.

Part of the plan is to make the mountain a research center, reintroduce plants and animal species that are at the verge of actually extinction, make it an animal shelter and sanctuary, a recreation spot and study area.

In the coming days, we will continue working with the relevant stakeholders to make it illegal to dump non-biodegradable substances on the mountain. We will also work to criminalize tree felling, use of certain chemicals during farming on the mountain, poaching and encroachment on the mountain .

Part of the project is also tagging trees on the mountain giving each a unique identity and advocate that they do not be felled.

The project has capacity to generate employment and economic empowerment for the host community.

We are working with various partners who are passionate about the environment, they include, Kasejene Agricultural Enterprise, The Scent Shop, Benue Hike Group
Benue Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Aride Landscapes (ACReSAL),
Center for commercial Agricultural Revolution( SamAgro Services), Victoria Travels, and Jumifa Bread. We are open to more partners who have the same objective as us. We are open to more partnerships..

But perhaps the most important part of the project is that it is being driven by the host communities, it's a cardinal value of the foundation that communities must take charge and leadership in conversation of their natural spaces, in that way the project becomes more sustainable.

This event is slated to begin on Friday September 15th - Saturday September 16th, 2023 will run through 2024 until this mountain is ridden of plastics, rubber and non-biodegradable substances.

Tersoo Akula
BoT Chair, Benue Hike Tourism and Conservation Foundation

Part II

Re: GOVERNOR ORTOM ORDERS INVESTIGATION INTO THE WASTE DISPOSAL SYSTEM OF PURE BIOTECH LTD.

As conveyed by the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity Mr. Terver Akase, the Benue Hike Tourism and Conservation Foundation appreciates the proactiveness of Governor Ortom by ordering investigation into the WASTE DISPOSAL SYSTEM OF PURE BIOTECH LTD, located at Kilometer 12 Gboko road Makurdi.

However we call for a more independent and inclusive investigation into the matter. We demand the government commissions an inquiry into the issue that includes the following .

1. The NGOs
2. The Press
3. Related Professional bodies
4. Academia
5. The Community.

We strongly suspect that this environmental hazard has been perpetuated and aided by the neglect of the government bodies responsible for the regulation of this company. They cannot now turn around to be judges in their case.

If the government really is interested in getting to the bottom of this issue,(as we suspect it is) it should set up an independent enquiry into the matter because from preliminary enquiry, we hold the Government Ministries, Department and Agencies partly responsibile for this neglect and we suspect their involvement in the investigation will compromise the outcome.

They are the co-accusers in this matter and should be questioned rather than take lead in the investigation.

We look forward to hearing from the government of Benue state on this.

Thank you

Tersoo Akula
Chairman, BOT
Benue Hike Tourism and Conservation Foundation