Speaking at a one-day workshop organized by the Delta State Ministry of Environment for taskforce and forestry sector in Asaba, the Minister of Environment, Alhaji Ibrahim Jibril regretted the reported take over of , forestry sector by miscreants saying their illegal activities are at the detriment of the economy.
At the workshop themed: “Preservation of forest investment, way forward”, the Minister represented by the Director of General Services, Ministry of Environment, Asuquo Enile blamed the current state of forests across the country on indiscriminate deforestation, degradation, poaching and trafficking of wild flora, as major setback to the economic crops.
He stressed that untoward human activities had reduced the ability of the forests to supply products, and play their role of protecting water bodies, biodiversity conversation, wildlife habits and carbon sinks.
The minister noted that most of the forest reserves and trees on production landscape were managed without basic management principles, explaining that allocations of timber resources were no longer based on technical considerations but on political patronage.
He stressed the willingness of government to provide enabling environment and funds to encourage meaningful participation by relevant stakeholders in efforts to attain sustainable utilization of forest resources.
In his remarks, the State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. John Nani expressed hopes that the taskforce on forests’ preservation would bring to book “Miscreants” allegedly destroying the economic trees.
He noted that the workshop will help to educate the modus operandi in the preservation of forests.
[a dunit=2]
