Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of kwara has disclosed that the sate is set to become major exporter of wood, furniture and other forest resources like Malaysia.

Ahmed while flagging off the tree planting at Asa Dam River Bank, in Ilorin lauded the Timber Chainsaw Mill Association for providing over twenty thousand seedlings of trees worth over N17.8 million.

According to the governor, the seedling provided  by the association would go a long way to assist the state deforestation programme.

While appealing to private sector and corporate individual to get involved in the economic development of the state, Ahmed said government alone cannot achieve the target.

He assured the association that the state is prepared to provide the necessary pre-requisite and environment for private sector to contribute to the development of the state.

The governor urged private sectors to harness the great potential in the state rich forest resources and forestry.

He tasked the association members to ensure the sustainability of the forest reserves because it can serve as alternative to oil revenue.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Environment and Forestry, Hon. Samuel Bamisaiye said the closure of the forest reserve early this year was not a punitive measure.

According to him, the government has no pleasure in making life unbearable to members of the association, but government embarked on the closure in the public interest.

He assured members that the closure would not linger on for long, if only all procedural measures that would check further illegal exploitation of the forest have been put in place.

In his welcome address he Chairman Steering Committee of the Chainsaw Mill Association, Mr. Olakunle Dare disclosed that the aim of embarking on the project was to put adequate defense against unsustainable environment practices. He decried the cutting of economy forest trees such as Shea-butter, Teak, Gmelina, Mahogany, Locust Bean Tress for charcoal.

Dare noted that members of the association have resolved to take part in the replacement of one tree with three trees in the state.

He said the association has planted over 25, 000 seedlings under the scheme in about six local government areas of the state like Asa, Ilorin South, Ilorin West, Moro, Edu and Ifelodun.

Culled from National Pilot Newspaper