ONE MILLION TREE PLANTING TARGET: OGUN FORESTRY MINISTRY BEGINS REPLACEMENT OF UNGERMINATED SEEDLINGS

          In its bid at ensuring that the Ogun State Ministry of Forestry meets its one million trees targeted for the year planting, the Ministry has commenced a Beat Up exercise.

          Beat Up exercise is an effort made at replanting trees planted but not germinating. This may be a result of a lack of adequate rainfall and other factors that usually hinder the growth of such trees.

          The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Forestry, Mr. Timothy Olatunji stated this during the exercise at Ijale Forest Reserve in Aworo, Yewa North Local Government Area, noting that it was part of the responsibilities of the Ministry to go around reserves where trees have been planted to know those that have not germinated in order to replant them.

          The Permanent Secretary said, "what we are doing right now is what we call Beat Up exercise. It is a process of replacing ungerminated tree seedlings. The reason for the non-survival of such trees might be due to inadequate rainfall

and this we have to do, to meet our one million target which of course shall be met".

          Also speaking, Director of Silviculture in the Ministry, Mr. Akeem Akinsanya, appreciated the efforts of farmers in the community at planting trees alongside maize and cassava, charging them to ensure the survival of more than 20,000 planted seedlings on 16 hectares of land.