BENIN CITY – The one week programme organize by the Ministry of Environment to mark the world environment day with the theme “seven billion dreams. One planet consume with care” has come to an end in Benin City with a call on the 7 billion population of the earth to embrace sustainable exploitation of resources and live within the planet’s resources.
The call was made by the commissioner for environment and public utilities Prince Clem Agba while delivering a key note address during a tree planting exercise at the University of Teaching Hospital (UBTH) on the occasion of the 2015 World environment day celebration.
Prince Agba said the world environment day celebration is a brain child of the United Nation General Assembly, and was established in 1972 to commensurate the opening of the Stockholm conference on human environment. He said the day (June 5) is set aside by the United Nations Environment programme (UNEP) to stimulate awareness of the environment and enhance political attention and action which is aimed at protecting the earth from degredation and massive loss of flaura and fauna.
Speaking further, the commissioner said in line with protecting the earth from degradation, making the environment safe and kept from unprecedent pressure our forest reserves are subjected to, the Edo State government has release 306,215 assorted tree seeding to primary schools, secondary schools (both public and private) including tertiary institutions in the state; regeneration of 60 hectares of forest trees in six local government area as well as seeding nurseries in the three senatorial districts; regeneration of 2.5 hecetares of Moringa and teak species at Uhumwonde local government regeneration of 4.5 hectares of forest at Idu locality of Sakponba forest reserve in Orhionmwon Local government area and rehabilitation and construction of several networks of drainage /culverts across the state.
“Evidently, Edo state government has been involved in the aggressive planting of trees as well as  strengthening the enforcement of forest laws to prevent illegal felling and deforestation”, he concluded.
Welcoming guest at the event the deputy chairman Medical Adversory Committee Dr. Darlinton Obaseki said this is the 41st celebration of world environment which started in 1972 but was first celebrated in USA under the theme “only one Earth” in 1974. He said the celebration has become an annual rituals and faculty of Agriculture UNIBEN has done well in celebrating the day annually. The faculty has planted a lot of trees since 2011 till day to enhance our environment.
The Head of Department forestry and wild life UNIBEN Dr. Aremu said the department has establish 7.5 hectares of forest plantation with over 5,000 economic trees valued at about 100 million naira in side B of the University. “The department has adopted some communities in the state where over 3,000 economic trees where planted to improve environmental quality”.