Delta State government has initiated moves to protect its forest reserves against extinction and illegal activities in forests across the state.The move aimed at harnessing the economic values of the reserves, includes procurement of drones and other modern equipment to curb environmental nuisance, flooding and other erosion impacts.
The Commissioner for Environment, Mr. John Nani, who disclosed this at one-day capacity building workshop, titled: “Improver Service Delivery For Sustainable Development,” expressed worries over the devastating impacts of poachers, illegal logging activities and arsonists, especially herdsmen, who allegedly set fire in the forest to allow for fresh pasturing grasses.
According to him, it is sad for a nation, struggling to shove-off its dependence on oil to allow the extinction of peculiar animals and giants African trees enriched with interlocking canopies from the forests, which are potential revenue earners through eco-tourism.
He also expressed worries over allegation of deforestation in Delta State University, Anwai Campus, Asaba, stressing that such illegal falling of trees in the forest reserve along the Asaba/Ebu/Abuja Federal Road, was in violation with the institution’s teachings.
He therefore called on the institution to introduce afforestation policy to replace fallen trees in its forest reserve in line global best practices.Nana further urged Deltans to embrace the culture of tree planting to assist in mitigating global warming as well as for socio-economic development.
