The Edo State Government has started a training programme to help key government agencies use modern digital tools to monitor and protect forest resources across the state. The initiative is designed to strengthen forest management, curb illegal activities such as logging, and promote sustainable land use.
The capacity-building programme was organised in collaboration with the Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH) Netherlands and brought together officials from several ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) responsible for environmental protection and land management.
Chairman of the Edo State Forestry Commission, Hon. Valentine Owamagbe Asuen, said the training forms part of the state government’s broader efforts to improve forest governance through the adoption of modern technology.
According to him, the programme focuses on equipping participating agencies with digital monitoring tools that can help them track forest landscapes, detect illegal activities and improve decision-making in forest management.
Declaring the five-day training programme open on Monday, March 9, 2026, the Chairman, who was represented by the Director of Forest Management and Utilisation, Mrs. Esther Uwoghiren, said the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to protecting forest resources and promoting sustainable environmental practices.
She noted that forests remain critical to the state’s ecological balance and economic well-being, supporting biodiversity and the livelihoods of many communities.
Hon. Asuen warned, however, that Edo’s forests are facing growing threats from deforestation, illegal logging and uncontrolled farming activities, stressing that stronger monitoring systems are necessary to protect them.
“Effective forest monitoring is essential for ensuring that our forests are properly managed and protected,” he said.
“The use of modern monitoring tools will help us improve data collection, enhance transparency and support better decision-making in forest management.”
He added that adopting digital technologies will enable government agencies to detect environmental threats earlier and respond more effectively.
Hon. Asuen also commended the Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH) Netherlands for facilitating the programme and bringing together stakeholders from various institutions involved in forest management.
“I would like to commend IDH for organising this training and bringing together participants from different MDAs,” he said.
“This collaboration is very important because protecting our forests requires the collective effort of all stakeholders.”
He urged participants to actively engage in the sessions, share experiences and build practical skills that will strengthen forest monitoring efforts across the state.
Senior Programme Manager at IDH, Mr. Ogwu Abraham, explained that the training focuses on building the technical capacity of government agencies and relevant stakeholders to effectively deploy digital platforms and geographic information system tools for forest monitoring.
According to him, the training covers the use of digital technologies for landscape diagnostics, planning, environmental monitoring and policy implementation.
He said one of the key objectives of the programme is to ensure that participating agencies are able to integrate the digital tools into the state’s operational systems for forest protection.
Participants in the training include representatives from the Edo State Forestry Commission, Edo State Geographic Information Service (EdoGIS), the Ministry of Environment and Sustainability, the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the Edo State Oil Palm Programme (ESOPP) and the Ministry of Justice.
The programme also attracted participants from the private sector whose operations are closely linked to land use and forest conservation.
These include Okomu PLC, T. A. Commodity and African Nature Investors.
Officials noted that collaboration between public institutions and private organisations is essential for ensuring effective monitoring and sustainable management of forest resources.
The training is being facilitated by forestry and remote sensing expert, Dr. Ralph Adewoye, who is guiding participants on the practical use of digital monitoring tools, data analysis and modern approaches to tracking forest and landscape changes.
