
The Edo State Government is collaborating with the Federal Government, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and the Global Environment Facility to tackle the challenges of deforestation and forest degradation, promote environmental sustainability and ensure effective management and utilisation of forest resources.
This was disclosed at a one-day state-level stakeholders’ consultation workshop, themed “Preservation of biodiversity and sustainable use of lowland forest mosaic in Ogun, Edo, Delta and Ondo States,’ held in Benin, the Edo State capital.
Addressing participants at the workshop, the National Consultant (Sustainable Agriculture) and Team Lead, Food and Agriculture Organization, Professor Adebayo Shittu, said the project was aimed at improving the sustainable use, conservation, and restoration of lowland forests, protecting globally significant biodiversity, and strengthening livelihoods of local communities who depend on the forests in Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ogun States landscapes
He said, “Deforestation and forest degradation is happening at an alarming rate, resulting in many wildlife habitats being destroyed, farmlands opened to flooding, loss of biodiversity, greenhouse gases accumulation, and loss of forest ecosystem, among others.