Edo launches 10-year plan to revive forests

The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has inaugurated a forestry commission with a 10-year restoration and plantation strategy to tackle deforestation, forest degradation and development of the state’s forest assets. Inaugurating the commission yesterday at the Okomu National Park in Udo, Ovia South West LGA, Obaseki, while decrying the loss and degradation of forest lands […]

The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has inaugurated a forestry commission with a 10-year restoration and plantation strategy to tackle deforestation, forest degradation and development of the state’s forest assets.

Inaugurating the commission yesterday at the Okomu National Park in Udo, Ovia South West LGA, Obaseki, while decrying the loss and degradation of forest lands over the years, said the commission would reverse the trend and harness the forest and wildlife resources to promote conservation of the ecosystem. 

He said, “We are fortunate in Edo because forestry management started here almost a 100 years ago, and we still have documents in our archives to show that. As far back as the 1920s, forest reserves were created and were managed under a 50-year felling circle. Which means that if you are given concession to log in that area, you are not allowed to come back to that area for another 50 years.”

Obaseki noted that the state had experienced a sharp reduction and degradation of forests due to illegal loggers and other practices.

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On his part, the Conservator General, National Park Service, Dr Goni Ibrahim Musa, represented by Kabiru Mohammed, said the commission would play a pivotal role in promoting sustainable forest use, combating the threat of deforestation, as well as illegal logging.