By Oyeniyi Esan
The Oyo State House of Assembly under the leadership of Hon. Debo Ogundoyin has revealed plans to encourage forestation in a bid to contribute to the economic growth and development of the state and to enforce laws to combat forest crimes.
In a motion moved by Hon. F.J. Okedoyin representing the Saki-West constituency notes that the enactment of Forestry Law in 1938 which was amended in 2017 by the 8th Oyo State House of Assembly aims at preserving and protecting the forest reserves against abuse by Individuals and providing penalties for any contravention.
The motion read, “The rate at which people abuse existing forests by cutting, uprooting or damaging the protected trees such as timbers, shea trees, locust trees and others which have substantial economic values. The abuse is alarming because some unscrupulous people in the name of making money cut and girdle green trees in preparation for charcoal production.
“Considering the large coverage of Forest reserves in the state, the ministries lack enough personnel to man the various designated forest areas across the state. There is a need to recruit more forest officers or guards to fully implement the provision of forestry law”.
The House also urged the Oyo State Government to work through Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, Environment and Natural resources and other stakeholders towards enforcement of forest laws for proper implementation and focus on afforestation of lands, preservation and production of forest produce to utilize the full economic potentialities.
