A 10-year Forest Restoration and Plantation plan to combat deforestation, forest degradation, and the development of forest assets was presented by Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki at the Edo State Forestry Commission’s inaugural meeting on Wednesday.
Obaseki decried the loss and degradation of forest lands over the years during the inauguration ceremony that was held at the Okomu National Park in Udo, Ovia South West local Government Area of the state.
Obaseki guaranteed that the recently initiated Commission would alter the course, outfit the woodland untamed life assets to advance protection of the environment and assume responsibility for the ungovern spaces in the backwoods.
According to him, “forestry management started in Edo almost a century ago, and we still have documents in our archives to show that,” the state was fortunate in terms of forestry.
“As far back as the 1920s, timberland saves were made and were overseen under a 50-year felling circle.
This means that you cannot return to a given area for another 50 years if you grant a concession to log there.
“Even as late as 1995, we had a third working cycle in which we planted for another 25 years. We have always had this history of managing our forest.
“In any case, as I talk today, the public authority I came to meet, there was nothing about anticipating ranger service. Sustainability was absent entirely.
With the inauguration of this commission, these setbacks we’ve endured are now being rectified.
We had the same issue with sports, so we established the sports commission to focus solely on sports.
“So, we thought that establishing a commission whose sole purpose is to deal with forest assets and all forest activities was one way to handle the issue of forestry and sustainability.”
The Governor pointed out that “timber business was abandoned after the discovery of crude oil.” In the past, Edo was known for producing timber with funds from abroad.
We have been discussing economic diversification. We didn’t have crude oil until the 1970s, but things like timber made up for it and helped us exchange currency.
“Timber was our crude oil, but when we discovered crude oil, we gave up on everything else, which is why we lost the culture of sustainability.
“We can regrow our timberland in the event that we start now. As a result, we need a plan. We must ensure commitment over the next ten years by developing a well-defined plan to restore and rehabilitate our forest.
Likewise, talking, the Conservator-General, Public Park Administration, Ibrahim Musa, said that the Commission would assume a crucial part in combatting the danger of deforestation as well as the hazard of unlawful logging.
Musa, who was represented by Mr. Muhammed Kabiru, expressed optimism that the Commission would assist in maintaining and safeguarding the wildlife resources and forest reserves for subsequent generations.
