BENIN CITY: The Edo State Government, in partnership with its international development partner, the Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH), Netherlands, has inaugurated a Technical Team for Forest Monitoring and Enforcement in the state.

The inauguration took place at a high-level meeting organised by IDH, which brought together key Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) involved in land administration, environmental protection and sustainable development. The meeting was held at the Edo State One-Stop Investment Centre (ES-OSIC), Benin City, yesterday
Members of the newly inaugurated technical team include representatives of the Edo State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Edo State Geographic Information Service (EdoGIS), and the Edo State Ministry of Justice.

Other MDAs represented on the team are the Edo State Forestry Commission, the Ministry of Environment and Sustainability, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.

Top government officials at the event included the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Sunday Osayande, and the Acting Managing Director of EdoGIS, Mr Tunde Egbiremonlen.

In his opening remarks, the Country Director of IDH, Prof. Eniola Fabusoro, stressed the need for strong institutional collaboration to achieve effective forest governance. He said the technical team would play a critical role in strengthening forest monitoring systems, improving enforcement, and ensuring transparency in land-use practices across Edo State.

Prof. Fabusoro reaffirmed IDH’s commitment to supporting the state with technical expertise, capacity building and international best practices to promote sustainable forest management and responsible agricultural and land-based investments.

The Terms of Reference guiding the operations of the technical team were presented by an IDH consultant, Mr B. A. Kadiri, who outlined the scope, roles and responsibilities of members in advancing forest protection and enforcement efforts in the state.

The inauguration of the technical team underscores the Edo State Government’s resolve to combat deforestation, strengthen environmental enforcement and deepen strategic partnerships that support sustainable development and long-term ecological conservation.