By Fatima Muraina
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The National Forestry Trust Fund, NFTF, has taken its campaign against forest degradation and deforestation to Ondo State.
The move was to create awareness on the importance of tree planting to protect humans and preserve animals in the environment.
The NFTF is saddled with the responsibilities of restoring sustainable forestry management in Nigeria and to help address funding reforestation and afforestation to increase the nation’s forest cover.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Press Officer to the Ondo State Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Sola Omoboyela and made available to The Hope .
The team lead of NFTF, Mr Joseph Omozoje who spoke with students and teachers of CAC Grammar School, Akure and residents of Aponmu Community, stated that the council was in Ondo State to create awareness on the need to protect the environment through tree planting and to sensitise the students to help spread the gospel of the benefits associated with trees planting.
Mr. Omozoje said the council is to generate additional funding, apart from the normal statutory budgetary allocation to carry out reforestation, protection, conservation, and sustainable management of the forest reserves in the country.
He stated that the council will make tree seedlings available for planting during the rainy season in the state, and people would be engaged in planting and maintenance.
The leader of the team explained further that the community will provide land for the planting, and that they would take ownership in as much the land belongs to the people.
Responding, the Olu of Aponmu, Oba Captain Solomon Faleye rtd, who spoke through the Lisa, Chief Ayodele Joshua, appreciated the Federal Ministry of Environment, members of the team and Ondo State Government for coming to his domain to sensitise the people on how to cultivate the habit of protecting the environment through tree planting.
Earlier, the team paid a courtesy call on the Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, Mr Olayato Aribo, in his office in Akure, where the commissioner assured them of total support and collaboration to make the environment habitable.
Aribo added that the state government is planning to plant 10,000 hectares of land this year through the ministry and another hectares through private investors.
He said the state government has put machinery in place to tackle deforestation and degradation by encouraging private investors to come in, adding that tree seedlings will be made available for people to plant.
