By Faridat Salifu
Federal Government of Nigeria has allocated $8.5 million under the Presidential Initiative on Afforestation to restore degraded forests and critical landscapes across Nigeria, NatureNews can report.
This was disclosed by President Bola Tinubu at the first international conference on afforestation and reforestation in Brazzaville, Congo, held from July 2 to 5, 2024.
Represented by the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, President Tinubu emphasized that this funding complements existing programs such as the Great Green Wall Pan African Program and the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL), which have already restored over 1.5 million hectares of degraded forests.
The president highlighted additional accomplishments, including the establishment of 1,428.9 kilometres of shelterbelts covering 4,286 hectares, the empowerment of over 200,000 forest community members, and the creation of more than 3 million jobs for young people.
“Nigeria is making significant strides in reversing forest cover loss through sustainable forest management and extensive afforestation,” stated President Tinubu.
He added that the recent approval of $8.5 million under the Presidential Initiative on Afforestation is aimed at restoring degraded forests and other vital landscapes nationwide.”
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This new funding supports other successful initiatives like the Great Green Wall and ACReSAL, which have already achieved significant results in forest restoration, shelterbelt establishment, and job creation.
Tinubu also announced efforts to strengthen relevant policies and legislative frameworks in response to current and emerging environmental challenges.
An interim suspension on the export of wood-based products has been put in place to allow a thorough appraisal of the process and ensure the implementation of a sustainable forest management system.
Reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to global, regional, and sub-regional efforts for sustainable forest management, Tinubu underscored the importance of collective action.
He referenced key international agreements, including the COP27 Africa and Global Decade of Afforestation and Reforestation, the COP26 Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use, and the forthcoming outcomes of COP28.
“Restoring our forests is a shared responsibility,” It requires the concerted efforts of governments, non-governmental organizations, private sector entities, civil societies, and communities. Together, we can achieve the common goal of increasing global forest cove,” he noted.
He reiterated Nigeria’s dedication to the globally agreed goals on forests, biodiversity, climate change, and sustainable development, stressing the necessity for transformative actions within the set timelines.
