Oyo Unveils 10-Year Reforestation Plan To Address 240 Million Tree Deficit
The Oyo State Government has unveiled a 10-year reforestation plan aimed at addressing an estimated deficit of 240 million trees, restoring degraded forest reserves and strengthening environmental sustainability across the state.
The initiative, known as the Oyo State Reforestation Plan (OYRP), is designed to reverse years of forest degradation caused by mismanagement, illegal encroachment and other unauthorised activities.
The Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Hon. Ademola Aderinto, disclosed this during the launch of the initiative, stressing that the government was committed to restoring lost forest resources and expanding the state’s forest cover.
Aderinto said the reforestation summit would become an annual event to assess progress, identify challenges and determine further steps towards achieving the 10-year target.
He added that the initiative would also support efforts to tackle climate change, expressing the state’s determination to contribute to Nigeria’s environmental restoration drive.
The commissioner disclosed that the government would engage schools and train students in tree planting, with incentives for schools that establish more trees within their premises.
He also said the government was working towards ensuring that every corps member posted to Oyo State planted at least one tree before completing the service year. Corps members who planted and maintained the highest number of trees would receive cash prizes and awards.
He called on individuals, organisations and other stakeholders to partner with the government in achieving the reforestation goals.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Dr Sunday Akinwale Moradeyo, commended Governor Seyi Makinde for approving the relocation of the Forestry Department to the ministry in 2019, saying the move had improved government attention, support and resource allocation to the department.
Moradeyo also disclosed that, for the first time, the state’s Director of Forestry would attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP) as a state representative.
He attributed the development partly to the commissioner’s commitment to tree planting and environmental protection, noting that the reforestation plan was initiated under his leadership.
The Permanent Secretary further advocated public-private partnerships as a sustainable approach to restoring degraded forests and returning damaged lands to productive use.
At the stakeholders’ engagement, participants called for regular evaluation and monitoring of existing forest management measures.
They also stressed the need to revive the compartmentalisation arrangement previously used to monitor forest reserves, arguing that properly managed forests could contribute to improved security.
The stakeholders urged the government to strengthen collaboration among forest users and security agencies to prevent criminal activities, including kidnapping, in forest areas.
They further proposed the establishment of a committee comprising representatives of different forest users to ensure the sustainability of the reforestation programme.
The event was attended by the Commissioner for Lands and Urban Development, Hon. Williams Akinfunmilayo; directors from various ministries; and representatives of forestry, environmental and research organisations, including FRIN, CENRAD, OYSIPA, the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, the University of Ibadan and IITA.
Other participants included sawmillers, timber contractors, charcoal dealers and other stakeholders in the forestry sector.
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