The Forestry Association of Nigeria has expressed worries over the activities of illegal tree fellers and loggers at Omo Forest Reserve in Ogun State.
The former President of the Association, Mr James Odebiyi, while addressing newsmen on behalf of the foresters in Abeokuta, on Wednesday, urged the state government to intensify action in curbing their activities.
He explained that the state is losing quite a lot of revenue as a result of the illegal felling of trees.
Odebiyi hinted that those engaged in the illicit business are armed with sophisticated weapons to tackle anyone that challenged them.
He said that the forestry institutions were committed to protecting the natural heritage of the country.
“Omo Forest Reserve is the only place that the state and Nigeria can boast of rich forest resources.
“Because of the unique richness of the forest reserve, United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) designated an area in the forest reserve as a natural heritage area to be managed by the world body under the name “Man and Biosphere Reserve.
“It is a world attraction, unfortunately, the state government has not been able to protect the place effectively.
“The Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria which is based in Ibadan, there is a letter from the institute informing the state government of the illegal activities in the forest.
“We are doing our own, we are blowing the whistle and we hope the government will follow up,” he said.
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