Commission applauds Gov. Imoke on preservation of rain forest in Cross River
October 08, 2012 10:22
NAN-H-8
Forest
Abuja, Oct. 8, 2012 (NAN) Mr Odigha Odigha, the Chairman of Cross River Forestry Commission, has commended Gov. Liyel Imoke's determination to eradicate poverty through the preservation of the rain forest.
Odigha told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that Imoke was an agent of change due to his special interest in environmental conservation, protection and preservation of the forest and its bio-diversities.
He said that the state government had embarked on several projects and best practice that would gradually reduce the total dependence of communities living around the forest areas on the forest resources.
According to the chairman, the state government has revamped the Cross River Forestry Commission into a robust commission by overhauling its management and encouraging professionals to run it.
``The government has approved several training programmes for the commission and members of its staff for capacity building on forest management and sustainability,'' Odigha said.
The chairman explained that the commission had embarked on the special training of 20 persons in each of the 18 local governments in specific skills acquisition.
``This will reduce over dependence on the forest resources in these communities,'' he said.
Odigha said that the programme was targeted at reducing poverty and creating employment for indigent persons in the state.
He said that the commission had designed programmes, such as payment of royalties to communities that were willing to retain their forests and willing to donate their land for afforestation.
``Accordingly, the commission had concluded plans to compensate people who gave any intelligence report on those who were engaging in illegal logging and arrest of such persons.
``The commission had embarked on a well packaged programme on bee farming for honey production, this will be a great source of income for the participants.
``The commission also intends to introduce farming technologies that will make farming much easier, improve on soil content and fertility, as well as reduction on bush burning,’’ Odigha said.
He advised other state governments to emulate the approach of Cross River Government as the country was being threatened by high level of unemployment, desertification and flood, as a result of climate change. (NAN)
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