The Ogun State Government says not less than 100 illegal settlements, will be invalidated from J1, J3, J4 and J6 forest reserves, while only 41 legal enclaves established by the State's law are to remain.
Commissioner for Forestry, Hon. Tunji Akinosi, disclosed this when speaking with newsmen in commemoration of year 2021 International Day of Forests, with the theme, "Forest Restoration: A Path to Recovery and Well-being", at the State's Secretariat, Abeokuta.
Akinosi said in restoring and securing the State's forests, all illegal activities such as encroachment, tree felling, illegal flitches and the discovery of an illegal bridge in Alaagan village to link Ondo State must be stopped, saying, over N2bn would be needed by the government to replant and restore 1,000 hectares of an encroached and deforested area.
"People must assist the government to stamp out illegalities, if they want any good thing to come out of the State's forests, as huge revenue is lost due to encroachment and unlawful expansion by people, who engage in illegal farming after destroying economic trees planted by the government", he said.
The Commissioner called on the timber Contractors, Sawmill Associations, Farmers and Village Heads in the legal enclaves to support government's efforts on forests restoration, adding that stakeholders should plant more trees for economic growth and ecosystem development.
In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. Lateef Benson, enjoined people in the State to stop cutting trees without regard for the environment, stressing the importance of trees in protecting the surroundings against climate change.
Speaking, the Baale of Orisunbare Village, Rev. John Oyeyemi, said the present administration's drive to attain a sustainable forest management was unmatched in the history of the State, adding that all legal village heads are in support of government's move to remove illegal enclaves and stop unlawful village expansions in the forests reserve.
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