Minister seeks support of FAN, green initiative programme on afforestation

The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal has asked for the support, partnership and collaboration of the Forestry Association of Nigeria (FAN) and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s (PBAT) Green Initiative Programme for afforestation across the country.

Balarabe disclosed this during a courtesy visit by FAN led by its president, Dr Afolabi Abiodun, recently in Abuja.

The minister stated that in order to improve afforestation programme in the country, all hands must be on deck and the cooperation of all relevant stakeholders needed to tackle desert encroachment by improving tree planting which FAN and PBAT Green Initiatives Programme focuses on.

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He urged other relevant agencies such as Agricultural Resilience in the Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) and Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN) to safeguard the forest.

The minister also emphasised the need to review our Environmental laws to tackle the challenges of illegal logging, poaching and banditry in the forest.

He further revealed that forestry is very critical in the environment sector and stakeholders have to make concerted efforts to safeguard the ecosystem of the forest, especially wildlife species.

“Forests are very important in mitigating climate change, curbing the extinction of wildlife and maintaining the ecosystem,” he said.

He commended FAN for its effort on afforestation programme and assured the association that the ministry and its agencies would give all the necessary support and cooperation the association needs to thrive.

Earlier, the president of FAN, Dr Abiodun said that majority of the members of the association were present and former staff of the ministry and agencies and such would work assiduously to support the ministry to succeed.

He added that the association which was established in 1970 does a lot of advocacy programmes and is very active in afforestation, initiatives assuring the minister that the association will continue to collaborate and partner with the ministry on its activities.