The Ogun State government has concluded plans to distribute free seedlings of teak, gmelina and other species of trees to individuals and residents of the state in order to effect the climate change and environmental degradation.
The state Commissioner for Forestry, Chief Kolawole Lawal, made this known while addressing stakeholders during an official visit to Sagamu, Iperu, Ago-Iwoye and Owode-Egba forest ranges.
Chief Lawal said planting of trees was crucial in sustaining the eco-system as the benefits derivable from planting trees were immense and vital to human survival.
He said that apart from its economic importance, the effects of climate change would be mitigated with a significant reduction in carbon-dioxide in the atmosphere through gaseous exchange.
The commissioner said that government had decided to encourage private bodies and individuals on tree planting across the state, calling on them to key into the tree planting exercise by applying for free tree seedlings in the ministry.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chairman, Ogun State Association of Processed Wood Producers and Marketers, Chief Adetola Dosumu, appealed to the state government to consider creating a forest reserve in Remo axis to revive the moribund saw-mills in the area.
In the same vein, the divisional forest programme officers in the state needed to intensify efforts on revenue generation in their respective forest ranges and ensure wood merchants play according to the rules of operations.
Chief Lawal gave the charge while addressing foresters in Sagamu, Iperu, Ago-Iwoye and Owode Egba free area ranges.
He said irrespective of the fact that the ranges were free zones had not precluded them from generating more revenue, advising that they should map out strategies towards the objective of raking revenue into government coffers.
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