The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has pledged to improve the livelihoods of people in Okomu Forest-dependent communities through preserving and sustaining the State’s forest resources and would ensure commercial and food crops are grown sustainably.
Obaseki made the pledge while addressing stakeholders at the one-day workshop for a coalition of actors tagged “Improved Livelihoods and Environmental Sustainability in the Okomu Forest Landscape” held at the John Oyegun Public Service Academy in Benin City, Edo State.
The Governor noted that the Sustainable Trade Initiative-IDH project is geared towards preserving and sustaining the management of the Okomu Forest reserve.
According to him, “we in Edo State are particularly blessed with several natural resources and one of the reasons we are here today is to let you know especially the community within the Okomu Forest reserve that you are a very unique area and it is something that as a people and as a State we must preserve because there are not many of such ecology left in the world”.
Speaking on the protection of the people’s means of livelihoods, he said that the project is also targeted at brainstorming on how to manage the Okomu landscape which includes forest protection and regeneration with the aim of preserving the unique agricultural environment while enhancing the livelihoods of the people.
The Edo State Governor added that several measures have been put in place to curb the illicit degradation of forests in the State.
“We have employed the best set of persons to manage human activities within the Okomu landscape, there are several measures which have been taken, these methods must include ensuring that the forest and wildlife activities are conserved, protected and annexed sustainably in spite of economic demands for these natural resources,” he urged.
On the role of the government, Obaseki assured of his administration’s support and partnership with relevant stakeholders, foreign partners and local communities so as to enable them achieve maximum performance in their various duties.
“It is our responsibility to regulate and create an environment for people to live a sustainable life, making sure there is order and security. Our role is to work with those who have the capacity to perform, we have people like IDH and this is what they do well” he said.
The Governor further said that effective stakeholders’ collaboration is central to sustainability plans and the protection of the environment.
