By Fatima Muraina

|

As the world celebrates the International Forests Day, stakeholders in the forestry sector have advocated for the need to resuscitate and sustain the existing forest reserve areas across the state.

To this end, Ondo state government has commenced the transplantation of 80,000 tree seedlings it produced for sustainability and for the survival of the human race.

The Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Forestry/Produce sub sector, Mr Oluwagbenga Akingbasote, disclosed this in a chat with The Hope in commemoration of the Forestry Day celebration in Akure.

Akingbasote who quoted the theme of this year’s celebration as: “Forests and Innovation: New Solutions for a better World”, observed the importance of trees which provides oxygen to man and take carbondioxide released by men.

” Trees in our environment also help to improve quality of air, contribute to climate change amelioration, water conservation, soil preservation and good support for survival of wildlife,” he stated.

“Destroying the trees at the forest means indirectly destroying men whose breath lies on the trees, Akingbasote stated”.

The Ondo state Chairman of the Forestry Association of Nigeria,  (FAN), Professor Adedayo Adesoji Gideon who is also the Head of Department, Forestry and Wood Technology, FUTA, called government to be more proactive in retrieving the forest reserves which have been degenerated beyond expectation .

 He appealed to government to mobilize the people in charge of securing the forest in Ondo State so that they will be able to monitor them properly.

According to the Director, Encroachment and Joint Task Force, JTF, of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Alhaji Moshood Obadun, “trees are planted to save and protect the environment for future gains.

He identified the major problem of forestry as deforestation and forest degradation which could lead to climate change .

Director, Conservation and Environmental Forestry, of the ministry, Osere Godwin said the seedlings being transplanted are of different species.

“We have about 20,000 of Tectona grandis, we have 20,000 of Gmelina arborea, we have 15,000, of Traculia africana we have 10, 000 of Khaya ivorensis and We have about 15,000 of Mansonia alttisma. They sum up to about 80,000 seedlings. “He stated

Others who spoke include: Ondo State Afforestation Project Manager, Temitope Adebusoye, A Forester working with Newmap at the natural resources management office, Samson Abiodun , the Director, Forest industry and utilization , Mr. Dada Audu Festus, and a Forest officer, Mrs Johnson Oluwayemi,