Edo, FAO Partner on $3m Deal on Forest Conservation, Biodiversity

•Trains MDAs on data collection, tracking, restates role in achieving SDGs

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, yesterday, said the government was partnering with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and three other States in the country on biodiversity and forest conservation.

Obaseki, who said this while briefing journalists in Benin City, said the project was worth $3 million.

The governor said the government was taking deliberate steps to tackle deforestation and forest degradation and enhance the conservation and development of the State’s forest assets.

According to Obaseki, “The forestry sector is attracting a lot of Investors both locally and internationally, and development partners have been quite kind to us by opening their doors and we are working with them especially in the areas of plantation establishment.

“The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) wrote to us a couple of months ago to be part of a project for the conservation of biodiversity and sustainable use of lowland forests. The project is between Edo State and three other States and is worth slightly over $3 million.”

While urging for increased collaboration among stakeholders to safeguard the environment, ensuring sustainable practices to preserve the ecosystem and prevent the loss of biodiversity, Obaseki said the state’s forest resources could boost its economy if properly harnessed and conserved.

He stated, “We were exporting timbers in the time past before the advent of crude oil resulted in the loss of the culture of sustainability. So, if we are to progress, develop, and diversify our economy, then we must go back to those things that made us great before.”

The governor reassured, “We will intensify actions at conserving our forests. We are working with our security forces and other stakeholders to smoke out all those people who are not supposed to be in our forest.”

Meanwhile, Edo State government has organised one-day training for officials of various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) on administrative data collection for tracking and reporting the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the state.

The participants who were expected to become desk officers for SDGs across MDAs in the state would help in the collation of accurate, reliable, and current data to make reports that would help make informed decisions towards the realisation of SDGs in Edo State.

Addressing participants at the workshop, the Permanent Secretary, SDGs/Ministry of Youths and Humanitarian Affairs, Ifueko Alufohai, said the workshop had been put in place to raise awareness and deepen the understanding of SGDs 2030 Agenda as well as strengthen and develop capacity for effective data gathering and reporting of the implementation of the SDGs.

Alufohai, represented by the SDGs Programme Coordinator, Samuel Osahon Ojomo said, “For the SDGs to achieve its set goals, we must be able to measure progress and report back to the citizens and the global community.

“The workshop is on advocacy for SDGs and training on administrative data collection for tracking and reporting the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals in Edo state.

“The process of tracking growth is fundamental to us as effectively tracking administrative data that possesses an element of integrity. It’s in this regard we employ your partnership in the provision of relevant and accurate data, cooperation with the data collation team, and partnership with the SDGs project support units to make the data collation process and creation of SDGs report seamless and productive.

“I urge all participants to take full advantage of this workshop to acquire new knowledge and information needed to translate the agenda into action as we drive the implementation of the SDGs in Edo State.”

While welcoming participants, Managing Director of the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA), Precious Imuwahen Ajoonu, thanked Obaseki for establishing the training center which is now instrumental for the training and retraining of civil and public servants across Edo State.

“We are excited that this programme is happening as SDGs Goal Number Four, which is quality education, has been embraced by the Godwin Obaseki-led administration since coming into office in 2016.”