Edo Unveils 10-Year Plan To Tackle Deforestation, Inaugurates Forestry Commission

Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Nigeria’s south-south Edo state, inaugurated the Edo State Forestry Commission with a 10-year Forest Restoration and Plantation plan to tackle deforestation, forest degradation and develop the forest assets.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony held at the Okomu National Park in Udo, Ovia South West local government area of the state, Obaseki decried the loss and degradation of forest lands over the years.

Obaseki promised that the newly inaugurated commission would reverse the trend, harness the forest wildlife resources to promote conservation of the ecosystem and take charge of the ungovern spaces in the forest.

He noted that the state was fortunate as far as forestry was concerned, saying “forestry management started in Edo almost a 100 years ago and we still have documents in our archives to show that.

The governor noted that, in the past, Edo was known for timber production with foreign earnings, noting that “timber business was abandoned after the discovery of crude oil

Also, speaking, the Conservator-General, National Park Service, Ibrahim Musa, said that the commission would play a pivotal role in combatting the threat of deforestation as well as the menace of illegal logging.

Musa, who was represented by Mr Muhammed Kabiru, expressed optimism that the commission would help to sustain and secure the forest reserves and wildlife resources for future generations.