By Anthony Ojo.
Reserve forests are capable of providing basic needs such as food, air and medicine for human beings if well protected and managed.
A resource person, Mr. Tope Faboya stated this in Aramoko-Ekiti at the sensitization programme for stakeholders on forest regeneration organised by the Nigerian Erosion and Watershed Management Project, NEWMAP, Ekiti state.
Mr. Faboya explained that reserve forests in the state had been abused through different activities like indiscriminate felling of trees, bush burning and grazing, hence the need for stakeholders to rise to the challenges.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Princess Iyabode Fakunle-Okieimen represented by the Project Coordinator of NEWMAP in Ekiti state, Mr. Seyi Adegbola urged the stakeholders in forestry management to ensure success of the project.
In their remarks, the Olupole of Ipole Iloro, Oba Babatola Oladele, Olohan of Erijiyan, Oba Adegoroye Omoseebi and the Elerio of Erio-Ekiti, Oba Johnson Bamigbade appreciated the state government for taking step to revitalise its forest reserves.
Some of the participants who spoke at the programme including Mr. Samuel Adesina and Mr. Lekan Babalola suggested possible ways to protect and regenerate the forest reserves across the state.
