The theme of this year’s IDF is “Forests and Innovation: New Solutions for a Better World”.
The PS stressed the importance of trees in providing oxygen and absorbing carbon dioxide for the survival of human beings.
“Trees in the environment help to improve the quality of air.
“It also contributes to climate change amelioration, water conservation, soil preservation and support for the survival of wildlife,” he stated.
The PS warned people to desist from encroaching into forest reserves as perpetrators will face the extant Forestry Law.
Prof Adedeji Gideon, the Head of Department, Forestry and Wood Technology, at the Federal University of Technology (FUTA), said the Day was set aside to create awareness of the importance of the forest.
Gideon said trees provide many benefits that enable humans to live well on Earth.
Prof. Gideon, doubling as the state Chairman of the Forestry Association of Nigeria (FAN), said the association had called the government’s attention to the need to revive forest reserves.
The HOD lamented that the reserves have degenerated beyond expectation.
He appealed to the government to mobilise the people to monitor and protect the forest reserves.
“When we mobilise forest officers appropriately, they will be able to move to our forest reserves anytime to apprehend illegal fellers,” he said.
The don also charged those degrading the forests to stop destroying them. He advised them to plant four to replace one tree cut from the reserve areas.
Also speaking, Alhaji Moshood Obafun, the Director of Encroachment and Joint Task Force (JTF) of the Ministry, identified deforestation and degradation as the major challenges facing state forestries.
Deforestation and degradation, Obafun said, have resulted in what is popularly known as climate change today.
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“In the past, when it rains, our houses were safe, but now, with little wind, the roofs of the houses are blown off.
That is one of the reasons for acute deforestation. And that is why the government is encouraging private investors to invest in the forestry subsector,” he said.
The director said the ministry generated more than N250 million in revenue as fines for illegal tree felling in 2023.
The Director of Conservation and Environmental Forestry in the Ministry, Osere Godwin, said the unit had raised 80,000 different types of trees to enrich planting.
Godwin said the seedlings comprised diverse species of both exotic and indigenous tree species.
He noted that most of the forests have degraded and that the government needed to replenish them through replanting.
“We have 20,000 Tectona grandis seedlings, 20,000 Gmelina arborea seedlings and 15,000 Traculia africana seedlings.
“We also have 10,000 Khaya ivorensis seedlings and about 15,000 Mansonia alttisma seedlings,” the director said.
According to him, the Government has released another set of funds to take seedlings to plantations this year.
He said the government is already preparing the land for this year’s plantation.
The State Afforestation Project Manager, Temitope Adebusoye, also said the state government had engaged private companies to assist in rejuvenating the forest reserve.
These are Wewood Ltd, which is rejuvenating 10,000 hectares for Melina tree planting and Rex Forest Tree Ltd rejuvenating 37,000 hectares with new tree planting.
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