Obaseki seeks stakeholders’ buy-in to sustain gains in forest regeneration

The Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has urged civil society organisations, organised private sector, donor agencies and trade groups, to support ongoing reforms in engendering forest regeneration in the state.

Obaseki, who made the call in commemoration of the World Environment Day marked on June 5, each year, by the United Nations and its partners, said, “stakeholders must work together in Edo State to safeguard our environment against degradation and its associated threats.”

“In commemoration of the World Environment Day, I urge stakeholders in the sector to support the state government reforms in engendering environmental sustainability,” Obaseki noted.

The governor added, “In the past six years, we have made concerted efforts to protect the environment and engender environmental sustainability through implementation of novel policies and programmes. In partnership with private stakeholders, we have restored 218 hectares of forest land across the state, as part of our efforts to boost the state’s green economy.

“Also, as part of the Edo State Oil Palm Programme, investors are mandated to restore 20 percent of total land area allocated to them for plantation. We are working with stakeholders to plant ten million trees in Edo State, over the next decade.”

He further stated, “The Edo State Parks and Garden Agency Bill and Edo State Forestry Commission Bill before the Edo State House of Assembly for consideration, will assist the state in efficient management and preservation of the state’s forest assets, and in establishing more serene and healthier environment through the maintenance of functional parks and gardens, as well as planting of trees.

He said, the #OnlyOneEarth campaign for World Environment Day 2022, aligns with the state government’s drive to restore the environment, including efforts made to address gully erosion issues in Gapiona, Oshiobgie-Auchi, and Iguosa through execution of remediation measures by the Nigeria Erosion Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP).

According to him, “Other areas where we have made tremendous progress to check gully erosion include Ekehuan, Ogiso, Urora, Fugar-Agenebode, Ewu, Emu, Ibore, Emu-Ohordua and Queen Ede gullies in Benin City. These efforts will prevent further erosion and destruction of public and private infrastructure and potential agricultural land.”