Group calls for preservation of nation’s forests for economic benefits

Save Our Heritage Initiative (SOHI), an NGO, has asked the federal government to design policies for the preservation of forest reserves not only for tourist attractions but also for foreign exchange earnings.

The group’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ms May Ikokwu, made the call in an interview with the Nigerian News Agency on Monday in Abuja in observance of World Forest Day 2022. The Nigerian News Agency reports that March 21 is a day designated as World Forest Day to raise awareness of the values, significance and contributions of forests in balancing the cycle of life on earth.

World Forest Day was established in 1971 at the 23rd General Assembly of the European Confederation of Agriculture.

Ikokwu, therefore, said that government at all levels must rise to the occasion to protect trees and forests from destruction.

She said that “the more people who can cut down trees illegally, the more revenue the government will lose, especially foreign exchange that comes from tourism, and more desert encroachment.

“Forests are not only sources of wood, but they have the ability to stop winds and prevent water erosion, so we must preserve them,” he said.

The culture advocate, who described forests as an important component of nature with wind-protective characteristics, said it was time for Nigeria to improve their preservation.

“Many trees and plants in the forest have medicinal values, but unknown to some herbalists.

“The fact that we do not know their medicinal properties is not a reason to destroy them,” he added.

According to her, forest reserves such as Shasha River Forest in Ogun, Anara Forest Reserve in Kaduna, Edumanom Forest Reserve in Bayelsa, Okomu Forest Reserve in Edo and others should receive more attention now for the economic benefits.

Ikokwu expressed his initiative’s determination to continue collaborating with relevant stakeholders “to preserve the gifts of nature, especially forests.”

He said that the continuous and reckless felling of trees was responsible for deforestation and the invasion of the desert, an enemy of nature and national development. (NAN)