NAN-H-31
Reforestation
By Aliyu Usman
Ilesha-Baruba (Kwara), Aug. 16, 2017 (NAN) A private company, Anamelo Forest Concession Ltd, on Wednesday began the planting of 7000 trees on 5000 hectares of land it acquired at Tumbuyan via Ilesha-Baruba, in the Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara.
At the flag-off ceremony of the tree planting project, Mr Ayeni Edward, the company’s Managing Director, said it was a foundation for the sustainability of the forests for now and in the future.
According to Edward, the reforestation programme is part of the requirement for its production of wood energy business with its foreign partners.
“Until you dig a hole, you plant a tree, you water it and make it survive, one cannot be said to have done anything, but just talking.
“Today, we are not talking, we are planting and this is in confirmation of a Chinese philosophy that says that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
“Today brings to fruition a painstaking combination of steps that took off with the signing of a lease agreement between Anamelo Forest Concession Ltd and the Emir of Ilesha on May 4, 2017,” he said.
The managing director commended the state ministry of environment and forestry, the community and other stakeholders in forest conservation and research, for their support that ensured the project came to fruition.
Also speaking at the event, Otunba Taiwo Joseph, the state Commissioner for Environment and Forestry, lamented the level of deforestation and degradation in the country.
Joseph said that hitherto, no effort had been made to sustain the environment.
The commissioner lauded the company for venturing into uncharted waters, saying it was part of the very few organisations that were walking the talk in Sustainable Forestry Management in the state.
Mr Adedayo Mahmud, the Conservation Manager (Technical), Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF), said that reforestation was a very good move to fight forest encroachment, global warming and climate change.
“Let us not forget that we are in somewhat what has been termed and turned a derived savannah.
“We need as many trees as possible standing to be sure of our future, particularly those of the future generations.
“The NCF is part of the programme to use this project as a launch pad to attract other individuals into the business of environment management,’’ Mahmud said.
The NCF official urged individuals, corporate bodies and communities to follow suit and contribute to the fight to mitigate environmental degradation and climate change.
On his part, the Emir of Ilesha-Baruba, Prof Halidu Abubakar, said he appreciated the entrepreneurial initiative of Anamelo, and urged youths in the area to emulate the company’s initiative.
Abubakar assured the company of his people’s support to ensure that the programme succeeded and would expand beyond expectations.
Mr Joseph Gbadebo, the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria’s (FRIN) representative, said the project would be of tremendous benefit to the people of the area and humanity at large.
Gbadebo said the institute would continue to partner any interested individuals, particularly by providing improved seedlings, as it had done for Anamelo.
“This project is laudable in so many ways, not the least of which is to serve as a means of employment to those engaged to do the planting and those hired to guard the trees,’’ the FRIN representative added. (NAN)
AUO/COF/PIO
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(Edited by Oluyinka Fadare/Idonije Obakhedo)