Edo State Government has expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of the Grassroot Consultative Committee on Biodiversity at the Gelegele Forest Reserve, a key component of the state’s biodiversity program being implemented in collaboration with Shell Petroleum Development Company.
The Gelegele Forest Reserve, recognized as one of Nigeria’s most biodiverse ecosystems, is the focal point of the joint initiative aimed at protecting its rich biodiversity while promoting sustainable livelihoods for communities around the reserve.
Chairman of the Edo State Forestry Commission, Mr. Valentine Asuen, voiced the government’s concerns when he received a delegation from the committee, led by its Chairman, Mr. Fred Oduagbon, at his office in Benin City.
Mr. Asuen decried the committee’s poor performance, emphasizing that more robust action is required to achieve the objectives of the biodiversity program. He also lamented the continued illegal activities within the reserve, including encroachment, logging, hunting, and farming, warning that these pose serious threats to the survival of the forest ecosystem.
“We expect the committee to redouble its efforts and collaborate more effectively with the Forestry Commission to safeguard the Gelegele Forest Reserve and ensure the success of the biodiversity program,” Asuen stated.
In response, Mr. Oduagbon assured the Commission of the committee’s commitment to the protection of the reserve. He pledged to strengthen collaboration with the Commission to address the challenges undermining the reserve’s integrity and the biodiversity program’s goals.
