By Ayodele Oni
Ekiti State Forestry Commission has destroyed 20 hectare-Indian Hemp plantation at the Ise Forest Reserves.
The 20 Hectare- Indian Hemp plantation and nursery was prepared for transplanting of the illegal weeds.
Executive secretary of the commission, Sunday Adekunle who disclosed this in Ado Ekiti, stated that making its forest reserves more productive and flushing out men of the underworld from the reserves across the state were high on the agenda of the commission .
He explained that the commission is fully committed to actualizing its mandate of reducing the rate of deforestation in the State and combatting of illegalities in the Forest Reserves.
Adekunle stressed that the recent recruitment of 22 new forest officers and 17 boundary guards by the Oyebanji Administration was having the required multiplier effect in terms of improved security through regular patrols of the forest reserves by the boundary guards and other officials of the Commission.
He disclosed that efforts were on to encourage local farmers who would engage in farming activities on some lands within the forest reserves through agroforestry methods.
According to him, they would be encouraged through planting of tree seedlings being currently raised at the Commission’s Central Nursery at Erinfun in Ado-Ekiti.
Adekunle disclosed that the commission would continue to embark on Public education and sensitization on key areas such as tree planting, wildlife, fire control and other matters in its bid to boost forest conservation and afforestation efforts in the State.
