Edo State Partners FAO, Other States on Forest Conservation,Biodiversity

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has announced that the state is partnering with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and three other states in the country on biodiversity and forest conservation.

The governor said this while briefing journalists in Benin City, adding that the project is worth $3 million.

Obaseki said the government is taking deliberate steps to tackle deforestation and forest degradation and enhance the conservation and development of the state’s forest assets.

His words: “The forestry sector is attracting a lot of investors both locally and internationally, and development partners have been quite kind to us by opening their doors and we are working with them, especially in the areas of plantation establishment.

“The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) wrote to us a couple of months ago to be part of a project for the conservation of biodiversity and sustainable use of lowland forests. The project is between Edo State and three other States and is worth slightly over $ 3 million.”

While calling for increased collaboration among stakeholders to safeguard the environment, Obaseki said the State’s forest resources can enhance its economy if properly harnessed and conserved.

“We were exporting timbers in the time past before the advent of crude oil resulted in the loss of the culture of sustainability. So, if we are to progress, develop, and diversify our economy, then we must go back to those things that made us great before.

“We will intensify actions at conserving our forests. We are working with our security forces and other stakeholders to smoke out all those people who are not supposed to be in our forest,” the governor added.

Agro Nigeria / Foluke Ibitomi