The Edo State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting and sustainably managing its forest resources through a capacity-building training programme organised in collaboration with the Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH) Netherlands on modern forest monitoring tools for key Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
The training forms part of broader efforts to strengthen forest governance in Edo State through the adoption of digital tools for monitoring forest landscapes.
The programme aligns with ongoing initiatives aimed at improving environmental sustainability and promoting responsible land-use management across the state.
Declaring the five-day training open in Benin City, the Chairman of the Edo State Forestry Commission, Hon. Valentine Owamagbe Asuen, who was represented by the Director of Forest Management and Utilisation, Mrs Esther Uwoghiren, said that the initiative underscores the state government’s determination to safeguard its forests and promote sustainable environmental management.
Asuen noted that forests play a vital role in sustaining the environment, protecting biodiversity and supporting the livelihoods of many communities, but warned that they are increasingly threatened by deforestation, illegal logging and farming activities.
He explained that effective monitoring remains critical to ensuring that forest resources are properly managed and protected.
“Effective forest monitoring is essential for ensuring that our forests are properly managed and protected. The use of modern monitoring tools will help us improve data collection, enhance transparency and support better decision-making in forest management,” he said.
Asuen commended IDH for facilitating the programme and bringing together stakeholders from multiple institutions, noting that protecting forest resources requires collaboration across sectors.
“I would like to commend IDH for organising this training and bringing together participants from different MDAs. This collaboration is very important because protecting our forests requires the collective effort of all stakeholders,” he added.
He encouraged participants to take full advantage of the training by actively engaging in discussions, sharing experiences and acquiring practical skills that would strengthen forest monitoring and sustainable forest management in Edo State.
According to the IDH Senior Programme Manager, Mr Ogwu Abraham, the training is designed to build the technical capacity of relevant government agencies and stakeholders to utilise digital platforms and Geographic Information System (GIS) tools for forest monitoring, landscape diagnostics, planning and policy implementation.
He added that one of the objectives of the training is for the MDAs to integrate these digital tools into the state’s cache of operating software to enhance forest monitoring and protection in Edo State.
“The strength of collaboration across state government agencies, which IDH is facilitating through the NISCOPS programme for forest protection and restoration, is very important,” Abraham said.
Participants in the five-day training include, representatives from the Edo State Forestry Commission, Edo Geographic Information Service (EdoGIS), Ministry of Environment and Sustainability, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Edo State Oil Palm Programme (ESOPP) and the Ministry of Justice.
The training also features participation from the private sector, including Okomu PLC, T.A. Commodity and African Nature Investors, whose operations and investments are closely linked to sustainable land use and forest conservation.
The training is being facilitated by Dr Ralph Adewoye, a forestry and remote sensing expert, who will guide participants on the use of digital monitoring tools, data analysis and practical approaches to tracking forest and landscape trends.
The programme, which commenced on Monday, will end on Friday and is expected to enhance the capacity of participating institutions to deploy digital technologies for improved forest protection, policy enforcement and sustainable management of forest landscapes across Edo State.