The federal government is working on new national forest management policy guidelines that would promote equitable management of the nation’s forest in such a manner that the harvest of timber and non-timber products does not have any adverse effects on the forest’s biodiversity, productivity and ecological process.
The Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Environment, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote gave this hint in Abuja when a delegation of the Association of Charcoal Exporters of Nigeria led by its president Dele Fagbola paid her a courtesy visit in Abuja.
Odusote stated that government was aware that certification would add economic value to the products been exported and it would in turn add to the national GDP.
According to her, this realization has made government to carefully structure the guidelines to be mutually beneficial to everyone.
She lauded the efforts of the association at mitigating the effects of deforestation, stressing that if adequately managed; the forest can be both economically viable and socially beneficial to the country.
“I wish to however urge you to mobilize your membership in supporting government efforts at boosting afforestation and forest cover in the country.
As we cut down a tree today, we should replace it by planting at least three new ones”, she stated.
Earlier in her remarks, the Legal Secretary to the Association, Lola Idowu, said that they were in the Environment Ministry to solicit support in the passage of the draft bill for an Act for the establishment of the National Timber and Forest product Certification Council before the National Assembly.
