By Anthony Ojo.
Ekiti state government has commenced the process of regenerating its nine forest reserves across the state through distribution of tree seedlings to farmers for planting.
The Commissioner for Environment and Natural resources, Mrs. Iyabode Fakunle-Okieimen made this known in Ode-Ekiti, Gbonyin local government at the conclusion of the sensitization of stakeholders on forest regeneration organised by the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project, NEWMAP, Ekiti state.
Mrs Fakunle-Okieimen said the tree seedlings would be planted in the forest reserves to replace the ones that had been felled, adding that a taskforce would be monitoring the planting process.
The Project Coordinator of NEWMAP in Ekiti state, Mr. Seyi Adegbola noted that four hundred and fifty farmers would participate in planting of the trees in the forest reserves, while ninety others would be mobilized to plant trees in their respective farms.
Delivering a lecture at the programme, a retired Forest Manager, Chief Emanuel Olaoye identified adherence to forest management principles, embracing modern planting techniques and employment of more forest guards as some of the ways of protecting the forests.
Some of the monarchs present at the programme including the Owaoroo of Agbado-Ekiti, Oba Samuel Adesina, the Oniro of Iro-Ekiti, Oba Afolabi Adeniyi and Owa-ateju of Iro-Ayeteju Ekiti, Oba Gabriel Ajayi urged government to emphasize the need for people to engage in tree planting due to its benefits.
