The Ogun State Government says it has planted about five million trees as part of efforts to restore forests, protect the environment and strengthen the state’s response to climate change.
The Commissioner for Forestry, Mr Taiwo Oludotun, disclosed this at an event marking a decade of activities by a Plank Sellers’ and Woodworkers’ Association in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
Oludotun urged members of the association to support the government’s tree-planting and forest conservation initiatives, noting that the programme was also aimed at protecting the livelihoods of people whose businesses depend on timber.
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He explained that growing pressure on forests had raised concerns about the long-term availability of wood resources, making forest regeneration increasingly important.
The commissioner disclosed that the state’s nine forest reserves were now fully operational and encouraged operators in the timber industry to source wood responsibly and plant trees to replace those harvested.
Oludotun noted that forests worldwide were facing increasing pressure from logging, agriculture, urban expansion and other human activities.
He explained that forests served as important natural carbon sinks by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere while helping to protect soils and water resources, support biodiversity and sustain communities that depend on forest products.
The commissioner stressed that for timber workers in Ogun State, environmental sustainability was also an economic necessity because their businesses depended on a steady supply of wood.
According to him, forest regeneration remains essential to safeguarding the future of livelihoods linked to the timber industry.
The Chairman of the Plank Sellers’ and Woodworkers’ Association, Mr Gbemisola Adenekan, said the future of the wood industry required responsibility, innovation and collaboration.
Adenekan noted that the association had continued to coordinate the activities of plank sellers and woodworkers while promoting members’ welfare, peaceful coexistence and legitimate economic activities.
Stakeholders at the event called for greater adoption of technology and more sustainable practices within the wood industry.
They also encouraged young people to play a more active role in environmental protection and conservation efforts.
Ogun State’s tree-planting initiative aligns with the objectives of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 13 on Climate Action and Goal 15 on Life on Land, which promote sustainable forest management and the protection and restoration of terrestrial ecosystems.
As the state expands its tree-planting programme, stakeholders emphasised the need to ensure the survival of newly planted trees and the sustainable management of forest resources.
They noted that for communities whose livelihoods depend on wood, tree planting is not only about protecting the climate and environment but also about preserving natural resources and economic opportunities for future generations.
