The Oyo State Government has launched the Oyo State Reforestation Plan (OYRP) to restore degraded forest resources, expand forest cover and promote environmental sustainability across the state.
According to the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources and chief host of the programme, Hon. Ademola Aderinto, the goal is to ensure that forest resources lost in the past due to mismanagement, illegal encroachment and other unauthorised activities are restored.
He said Oyo State had identified a deficit of 240 million trees and was taking the necessary steps to address the challenge through a 10-year reforestation plan.
Hon. Aderinto explained that the Reforestation Summit would become an annual event where stakeholders would assess progress, identify outstanding challenges and determine further actions needed to achieve the target.
He added that the initiative was also aimed at addressing climate change, noting that the state was determined to take the lead in Nigeria’s efforts towards environmental restoration.
He said the Oyo State Government was open to partnerships to ensure a safer environment. The commissioner promised to engage schools, train students and compensate schools that establish more trees within their premises. He added that the government is working to ensure that every corp member posted to Oyo State plant at least one tree before the end of the service year. The best corps member, based on the number of trees planted and maintained, would also receive cash prizes and awards.
Hon. Aderinto urged all stakeholders to join hands in achieving the set goals.
The commissioner appreciated His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde, for making the programme a reality. He also appreciated the management and staff of his ministry and all the stakeholders present.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Dr Sunday Akinwale Moradeyo, appreciated Governor Seyi Makinde for approving the relocation of the Forestry Department from the then Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development to the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources in 2019.
He said the move had created better opportunities for the department in terms of government attention, support and resource allocation.
He noted that, for the first time in its history, the Director of Forestry will be attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP), as one of the state representative.
Dr Moradeyo attributed the progress to the efforts of the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Hon. Ademola Aderinto, particularly his commitment to tree planting. He recalled how the commissioner regularly requested trees for planting at different locations, describing this as a demonstration of his passion for environmental protection.
He also disclosed that the Reforestation Plan was initiated by the commissioner, adding that the department had benefited directly from intervention projects through the Federal Ministry of Environment and related agencies.
He said the public-private partnership arrangement offered a more sustainable approach to restoring forests, expanding forest cover and returning degraded lands to productive use.
According to him, relying solely on government ownership and management of forest resources at the sub-national level was no longer sufficient to tackle deforestation and forest degradation, which also threaten the livelihoods of individuals and stakeholders whose economic activities depend on forest resources.
During the stakeholders’ engagement meeting, themed “Shared Responsibility for a Greener Oyo State: Financing Restoration through Public-Private Partnership,” stakeholders called for an evaluation of the measures already put in place and their continuous monitoring. They maintained that a well-managed forest reserve would contribute to improved security.
They urged the Oyo State Government to revive the compartmentalisation arrangement, which was previously adopted to monitor the forests in the area.
They also called for full collaboration among all stakeholders, noting that this would help curb kidnapping by ensuring that the forests are properly monitored and secured, thereby supporting the government’s efforts.
The stakeholders further urged the state government to establish a committee comprising representatives of all forest users to ensure the sustainability of the reforestation plan. They also expressed their readiness to work with the state government towards improving forestry management in the state.
The programme was attended by the HonourableCommissioner, Ministry of Lands and Urban Development, Hon. Williams Akinfunmilayo; directors from different ministries; and representatives of FRIN, CENRAD, OYSIPA, the Department of Social and Environmental Forestry, University of Ibadan, the Department of Forest Production and Protection, University of Ibadan, Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), Forestry Association of Nigeria, Head of Forest Centre, IITA, sawmillers, timber contractors, charcoal dealers and other stakeholders.
