Edo State Government in collaboration with international partners, including Association Bernadette Strebel World Peace in Switzerland and the Africa Initiative for World Peace have intensified efforts on the state’s reforestation program.
Towards this end, about 300 hectares in Ehor Forest Reserve have been covered in a move to combat climate change and preserve endangered species, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Forestry, Dr. Festus Onogholo, said
According to him, the Obaseki-led administration’s reforestation project is an extensive program anchored on protecting and sustaining the state’s bio-resources, helping to tackle climate change, ensuring environmental sustainability and protecting the state’s unique biological ecosystem.
He said a lot of progress has been made on the reforestation project in Area BC 15/1 Ehor Forest Reserve, Ehor, Edo State, which is a critical step in achieving the government’s targets for environmental sustainability.
He said 400 hectares of land in Ehor was earmarked for the reforestation work in the area, where a lot of progress has been made, as about 300 hectares have been covered since the inception of the project.
According to him, “We had planted trees in 270 hectares and worked on an additional 28 hectares in 2020. We planted indigenous species of Opepe, white Afara and black Afara in the marked area.
“For exotic species, we planted teak and Gmelina. All of these were achieved in collaboration with our international partners on the project. We have 54 forestry workers paid to work on the project.”
He noted that the project would contribute to saving the world from climate change and protecting animals in the forest, as the area is a natural habitat for some white-throated monkeys and others.
