Gov Abiodun Advocates Synergy For Good Ecosystem To Reduce Deforestation - EDU-BIZNEWS

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Thursday, April 6, 2023

Gov Abiodun Advocates Synergy For Good Ecosystem To Reduce Deforestation


    
    
Governor Dapo Abiodun has stressed the need to put measures in place that will ensure an integrated landscape management that would make forest dependent communities an important partner in a bid to reverse deforestation process in the government forest reserves in Ogun State

Governor Abiodun made  the call in Abeokuta, while declaring open a state level stakeholders’ consultation workshop, organised by Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations on conservation of biodiversity and sustainable use of a low land forest mosaic landscape in Ogun, Edo, Delta and Ondo.

The governor, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Forestry, Dr. Rotimiolu Akinlesi, said the involvement of communities around forest reserves would help in recovering and restoring degraded ecosystem, emphasising the need to conserve all the component of the low land forest mosaic landscape, especially in Omo-forest reserve to strengthen their inter-dependence, sustained flow of ecosystem services and sustainable livelihood development.

According to him, “low land forest mosaic landscape found in eastern part of Ogun State consist of several co-existing and interdependent natural ecosystem like fresh water, agricultural lands, forests land and pasturelands. However, cultural practices and actions of inhabitants of these areas,  often times affect the natural ecosystem.

 The cultural practices and actions of this people also strongly influence the natural ecosystem. The degradation of forests due to land use changes, over exploitation and loss of biodiversity have had serious implications in food security, due to loss of indigenous seeds and plants, disruption of nutrients and water recycling, natural pollination and biological pest control”.

The State Commissioner for Forestry, Engr. Taiwo Oludotun noted that various steps had been taken to protect and conserve the forest, which include, prompt arrest and prosecution of culprits found carrying out illegal activities, such as illegal tree felling and cutting of flitches among others, saying advocacy visits to enclaves and sensitisation in the media would also help to forestall the infraction.

 Earlier in his address, the Assistant FAO representative in Nigeria and Head of Programme, Dr. Sulaimon Abubakar said the workshop was part of the Organisation’s commitment to sustainable food production, charging participants to contribute meaningfully and come up with solution that would make forests to thrive.

Goodwill messages were delivered by the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Adeola Odedina, his counterpart in the Ministry of Environment, Mr. Ola Oresanya, representatives of Ministries of Rural Development, Women Affairs and Social Development, Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF), among others.

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