Ogun embarks on aggressive tree planting, moves to curb tree felling 

The Ogun State Government has embarked on aggressive tree planting and also moved against illegal tree felling.

The government also said it had planted over five million trees as part of measures to guarantee healthy leaving in the state.

Speaking to journalists on this year International Day of Forests with theme ‘Forests and Food’ in Abeokuta on Friday, the Commissioner for Forestry, Taiwo Oludotun, said the state government had also deployed Amotekun operatives to the forest reserves to curb illegal mining, tree felling and other criminal acts threatening forest sustainability.

He explained that the importance of tree planting to human life could not be overemphasised because it helps in purifying the air, control erosion, provides shelter and lots of resources for human survival and economic purposes.

“We are very deliberate about tree planting in Ogun State. We have about nine forest reserves in the state but most of them were moribund when we came in about five years ago.

“We have, however, embarked on aggressive tree planting, we have equally also scaled up the sustainability drive and the protection of these forests from all forms of illegal activities.

“In the last five years, we have planted over five million trees. Part of what we have done to ensure the safety and protection of these forests is to clean them of the illegal miners, loggers and even illegal settlers”, said the Commissioner.