NO fewer than 1.6 billion people across the world depend mainly on forest resources for livelihood, Minister of Environment, Mrs. Amina Mohammed, has said. forestMohammed, who spoke at this year’s International Day of the Forest in Abuja, urged all Nigerians to join hands with government at all levels in its quest to preserve the nation’s forest resources.

She said the UN General Assembly on November 28, 2012, adopted a resolution to declare every March 21 as International Day of the Forest. The significance of the day, according to her was to create awareness among people on why they should protect the nation’s forest for the survival of humanity and other living organisms. However, while the recommended forest cover for every nation, according to Food and Agricultural Organisation, FAO, is 26 per cent, in Nigeria it is less than six per cent.

 On the significance of this year’s celebration, with theme ‘Forests and Water,’ Amina said: “This year’s celebration will raise awareness on how forests are key to the planet, supply of fresh water, which is essential to life and the multiple links within the forest and water sources. Forest and wet lands depend on water sources but at the same time, the forest eco-systems sustain water quality and helps mitigate the risks of water-related disasters.

Forest covers one-third of the earth’s land mass, contributing significantly to reducing soil erosion and the risks of landslides and other natural disasters.” Also speaking, the Director General, Nigeria Conservation Foundation, Mr. Adeniyi Karunwi, lamented the state of forest in Nigeria, saying that most of the trees that would have provided the needed cover, had been felled in the name of industrialisation.