The Ogun State Commissioner for Forestry, Engr. Taiwo Oludotun, has emphasized the importance of data-driven conservation under the Food and Agriculture Organization’s Global Environment Facility (FAO-GEF7) programme, being implemented in collaboration with the Ogun State Government.

Engr. Oludotun made this known in Abeokuta while declaring open a training programme themed “Collect Earth and Mapathon Data Collection,” describing the initiative as a critical step towards strengthening data-driven forest governance and biodiversity conservation in Nigeria.

The training, scheduled for January 19–25, 2026, brings together representatives from federal and state government officials, project implementation units, development partners, and participants from relevant institutions 

The  Commissioner commended the FAO and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) for their continued technical and financial support for biodiversity conservation and sustainable forest management, saying the FAO–GEF7 Biodiversity Project has demonstrated the value of partnerships, capacity development, and the application of global best practices adapted to local conditions.

Oludotun also praised the NPIU and SPIU for their coordination and professionalism in organizing the training, noting that their efforts reflect effective collaboration between national and state institutions in environmental management.

Highlighting the importance of forests and biodiversity to economic development, environmental stability, and social well-being, he noted that forest resources provide critical ecosystem services, support livelihoods, and contribute to climate regulation, soil conservation, and water management. 

Meanwhile, He noted these resources, are increasingly threatened by illegal logging, encroachment, unsustainable land-use practices, and the impacts of climate change.

He therefore, emphasized that reliable and timely data are essential for addressing these challenges, stressing that tools such as Collect Earth and Mapathon enable more accurate monitoring of land-use changes and forest conditions through geospatial technology, satellite imagery, and participatory data collection methods.

He further described the training as a strategic investment in human capacity,  explaining, the  participants would gain practical skills in data collection, interpretation, and validation. 

He urged Participants to engage fully in the programme, leverage the expertise of facilitators, and ensure that knowledge gained is applied effectively within their respective institutions, noting that the success of the training would ultimately be measured by its impact on sustainable forest management and biodiversity protection on the ground, while reaffirming the government’s commitment to sustainable forestry and environmental protection, the commissioner assured stakeholders of continued support for capacity-building initiatives and partnerships that enhances institutional performance.

In his remarks, the Chief Technical Advisor for the GEF7 Biodiversity Project, Professor Segun Oladoye, described the Global Environmental Facility (GEF7) as an institution that specializes in supporting and financing environmental and livelihood initiatives. He highlighted biodiversity projects as a key example.

He outlined the project's four components, each with distinct activities. Among which is a capacity-building programme, which directly led to this training session. Professor Oladoye emphasized that participants would learn to use specialized software for data collection and interpretation and the skill, he noted, was essential for planning restoration activities in degraded forest areas.

He further disclosed that the training aimed to empower participants with practical knowledge, enabling them to develop solutions for challenges faced in their respective workplaces.

One of the participants a Principal Forest Officer from the Ondo State Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Orogun Ademola, stated that his participation was driven by a desire to gain updated knowledge on the latest geospatial technologies.

Other participants, including Titilayo Omogie from the Edo State Forest Commission and Johnson Mafiejor from the Delta State Ministry of Environment, also spoke extensively about the training's benefits. They expressed their appreciation to the organizers for the valuable initiative.