The Ogun State Commissioner for Forestry, Engr Taiwo Oludotun, has officially opened the Collect Earth and Mapathon Data Collection Training, describing the programme as a critical step toward strengthening data-driven forest governance and biodiversity conservation efforts across Nigeria. The training was organised under the FAO–GEF7 Biodiversity Project and attracted participants from multiple institutions involved in environmental management.
The event brought together representatives of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, officials from federal and state governments, members of the National and State Project Implementation Units, development partners, resource persons, and participants drawn from relevant environmental and research institutions across the country.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Oludotun commended the FAO and the Global Environment Facility for their sustained technical and financial support toward biodiversity conservation and sustainable forest management initiatives in Nigeria. He noted that the FAO–GEF7 Biodiversity Project had consistently demonstrated the importance of strong partnerships, targeted capacity development, and the application of global best practices adapted to local realities.
The commissioner also praised the National Project Implementation Unit and State Project Implementation Units for their coordination and professionalism in organising the training, saying their efforts reflected effective collaboration between national and state institutions in addressing environmental challenges and improving forest governance frameworks.
Oludotun explained that forest resources provide essential ecosystem services, support livelihoods for millions of people, and contribute significantly to climate regulation, soil conservation, and water management. However, he warned that these resources are increasingly threatened by illegal logging, forest encroachment, unsustainable land-use practices, and the growing impacts of climate change across different ecological zones.
He stressed that reliable and timely data are central to addressing these challenges effectively, adding that tools such as Collect Earth and Mapathon make it possible to monitor land-use changes and forest conditions more accurately. According to him, the tools rely on geospatial technology, satellite imagery, and participatory data collection methods that improve transparency and decision-making.
“In fact, the training is a strategic investment in human capacity, and I believe the participants will gain practical skills in data collection, interpretation, and validation,” Oludotun said.
He added that the skills acquired would strengthen institutional capacity to monitor forest cover change, assess degradation trends, identify biodiversity hotspots, and support evidence-based planning and policy formulation. He noted that the training would also improve reporting under national frameworks and international conventions on biodiversity, climate change, and sustainable land management.
The commissioner urged participants to fully engage in the programme, make use of facilitators’ expertise, and apply the knowledge gained within their respective institutions. He said the success of the training would ultimately be measured by its real impact on sustainable forest management and biodiversity protection.
In his remarks, the Chief Technical Advisor for the GEF7 Biodiversity Project, Professor Segun Oladoye, described the Global Environment Facility as a specialised institution that supports and finances environmental and livelihood-focused initiatives worldwide. He outlined the project’s four components, including a capacity-building programme that led directly to the current training.
A principal forest officer from the Ondo State Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Orogun Ademola, said he joined the training to gain updated knowledge on emerging geospatial technologies. Other participants, including Titilayo Omogie from the Edo State Forest Commission and Johnson Mafiejor from the Delta State Ministry of Environment, also commended the initiative and thanked the organisers.
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