The Chairman of the Ekiti State Forestry Commission, Surv. Kayode Olaosebikan has called for significant increase in tree planting as part of efforts to reduce the effects of climate change and environmental degradation.
Surv. Olaosebikan made the call after planting a tree at the state Secretariat complex in Ado Ekiti to commemorate the 2022 International Day of Forests.
Stressing the importance of tree planting to the environment, Olaosebikan emphasized that afforestation could be used to mitigate the effects of environmental degradation and global warming.
He warned that State Government would no longer tolerate illegal felling of trees, stressing that the subsisting Forestry laws would henceforth be enforced to curb sharp practices in the State.
The Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, Dr. Akinyemi Akinyua noted that the effects of environmental degradation has damaged the eco system and stressed that all hands must be on deck to protect the environment
Akinyua said that the state government has planted thousands of trees and would continue to do so in recognition of the fact that the tree planting would boost livelihood.
Stakeholders at the event decried the activities of illegal wood loggers and charcoal producers and called on relevant authorities to clamp down on offenders.
The United Nations General Assembly had proclaimed 21st March of every year as the International Day of Forests (IDF) with the aim of creating awareness for forest conservation and tree planting to help regenerate degraded forest.
The theme for this year’s international day of Forest is ‘Forests and Sustainable Production and Consumption’.
Packaged by Emmanuel Adeniran
