TheCable

Lucky Wasa, permanent secretary, Edo ministry of environment and sustainability, says the state will plant 10 million tree seedlings in the next 10 years to combat desertification.

Wasa, who spoke in an interview with journalists in Benin on Tuesday, said the exercise was part of the afforestation programme of the state’s forest reserve.

He said the programme would be executed in partnership with Rongtai Wood Company, a Chinese firm.

Wasa said the rate of depletion of natural resources causes harm to the environment and advised residents to plant trees in their areas.

“We have an understanding with all the licenced timber contractors, saw millers and other stakeholders to plant one tree for every tree they cut,” he said.

“We are also encouraging residents to plant trees around their environment. We are trying to make them realise the negative effect of tree felling without replacement.

“We are carrying out enlightenment programmes, especially radio jingles to make them realise the benefit of this and also the danger of desertification.

“Natural resources are being depleted and causing harm to human existence such that we can no longer predict our weather condition,”
Wasa said asides the 10 million trees project, the state has other plans to combat deforestation and that this is the first time an administration in the state would be taking bold steps to enhance afforestation.

“No government has ever taken any interest in preservation of our environment. The state is reviewing its forestry laws to meet with the present-day reality and in addition, we have established a Forestry Commission to ensure the management and preservation of our forest.

“This will ultimately remove the bureaucracy of the ministry from the management of forests.”