Towering greens in forests provide a wide range of products and services crucial to the mental, social, and physical health of billions of people worldwide. The International Day of Forests (IDF), celebrated every 21 March to advocate for global support to conserve forests and forest resources, took IITA Forest Center to Olokemeji, a local community in South-West Nigeria.
The event, which took place on 22 March, aimed to educate the community on the benefits, progress, and challenges of the ongoing reforestation project. Farmer representatives, women representatives, community leaders, foresters from Nigeria Forestry Service, and Olokemeji Schools Conservation Club students attended the event.
IITA Forest Center Field Supervisor Olukunle Olasupo engaged the attendees in a discussion highlighting the importance of keeping forests and harnessing forest resources for the physical, mental, and social health and well-being of the community in Olokemeji. He emphasized the tourism and economic advantages of keeping forests as long-term benefits the Olokemeji community should proudly look forward to.
In addition, women can weave baskets, purses, and bags for sale using byproducts from the forest. They can also invest in bee-keeping and honey extraction for sale. People can harvest shrubs, herbs, vegetables, fruits, mushrooms, and twigs for food and medicine from the forest to lead healthy lives. Olasupo urged the children to encourage their parents to invest in planting trees and eating fresh foods rather than synthetic or chemically processed ones.
Speaking on behalf of the community, Honorable Yusuf Gbolahan lauded the effort of IITA–CGIAR and the Nigerian Breweries in making Olokemeji the site of the reforestation project. However, he expressed the displeasure of indigenes of Olokemeji who can no longer plant food crops in the forest lands they previously used to farm. He asked that the community be provided with other perks to improve the immediate living conditions of the people.
A representative of the Nigeria Forestry Service, Aileru Aderemi, highlighted the short and long-term benefits of reforesting the degraded Olokemeji Forest Reserve to the community. He said other communities look forward to having this unique opportunity but do not. He encouraged the community representatives to approach the government for arable land, explaining that the Forest Reserve is not for farming.
Responding to the concerns of Olokemeji residents, Olasupo reassured the community that the project would enhance their welfare and improve their immediate and long-term livelihoods. He asked that they be patient and support the project’s progress. He also highlighted other opportunities for the community, such as beekeeping training and the supply of beehives and beekeeping kits to provide alternative sources of income for women and other members of the community.
Contributed by: Folake Oduntan
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