The State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio has appealed to the private sector especially corporate organizations, multi-national companies and civil society organization to partner with the state government in the management of forest reserves.

Governor Akpabio who stated this during the launching of this year’s World Environment Day in the state, noted that over the years the integrity of the forest reserves have been tempered with by humans.

In order to address the emerging environmental challenges in Akwa Ibom State, the State Chief Executive said, forestry and wildlife laws and regulations will be enforced in the state.

Emphasizing the committed resolve of his administration to preserve the state's rich forest reserves, he assured that the state government would give adequate support to the state’s Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources to restore the state’s vital ecosystems.

The development, he explained would not only promote tourism but also open up job opportunities for the youths in wildlife and forest based employment.

The Commissioner for Environment and Mineral Resources, Obong Eno Akpan in his address at the event, observed that Akwa Ibom State has a great challenge in the area of forestry to attain the National Minimum requirement of 25 percent forested land area.

Obong Akpan explained that the challenge is compounded by the state’s high population living within a compact land mass, resulting in great pressure on what could have constituted forest land area by urbanization and developmental demands.

Referring to this year’s theme of the celebration “Many Species, One Planet, One Future”, the commissioner said that its essence was to assess the need for human precaution in massive ecological interaction with the living part of the environment, such as the flora and fauna vastly exploited by man.