Ondo Government to spend N100m on forest GIS

The Ondo State Government will spend N100 million to provide Geographic Information System (GIS) to monitor its forest reserves, the Commissioner for Natural Resources, Mr Tunde Atere, has said.

Atere made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Akure on Sunday.

He said that the state government was committed to ensuring best practices in the management of its forests resources through GIS.

“With this device, we shall be able to monitor and manage our forest resources better in a sustainable manner.

“This will, among other things, assist the state to fully harness its forest resources in line with sustainable practices as obtainable in the developed economies of the world,’’ Atere said.

The commissioner urged all stakeholders to partner with government in ensuring the revitalisation of forests in the state.

“The mainstay of economy in this state is forestry and the only section of the industry that has survived economic turbulence is the wood sawmills.

“This sector is obviously the major supporter of private sector employment in the state, while forest remains the only raw material base.

“This is why everybody, including professionals, academics, sawmillers, concessionaires, trees taker, must appreciate the need to protect our forests,’’ he said.

He, however, said that the ministry would implement policies that would reduce to the barest minimum, all activities harmful to the development of forests in the state.