In a significant move towards environmental sustainability, the Federal Ministry of Environment has joined forces with the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) under the ACReSAL Project.
The project aims to recover 350,000 hectares of degraded landscapes across 19 Agro-Climatic Resilience in semi-Arid Landscape (ACReSAL) states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Speaking at the contract signing ceremony in Abuja, the Environment Minister emphasized the importance of collaborative solutions for the challenges faced by Northern Nigeria.
The project, which reflects a shared commitment to sustainable practices, is set to address climate change issues, enhance community livelihoods, and boost food production and security in the region.
The minister highlighted the challenges faced by Northern Nigeria and praised the collaboration with FAO and partners like the World Bank.
The initiative aims not only to restore large-scale landscapes but also to build community capacity to adapt and mitigate the impact of climate change.
FAO’s representative, Dominique Koffy Kouacou, expressed the organization’s commitment to supporting the government in protecting the environment and conserving Nigeria’s natural resources.
The ACReSAL Project aligns with FAO’s global aspirations for a better environment, focusing on sustainable landscape management practices in Northern Nigeria.
Dr. Joy I. Agene, the Task Team Leader of the ACReSAL Project, emphasized the significance of the partnership and its role in achieving the project’s mandate to reclaim one million hectares of degraded land in Nigeria.
The collaboration is expected to contribute to the reclamation of over 350,000 hectares, addressing the impact of climate change in the country.
Abdulhamid Umar, National Project Coordinator for ACReSAL, highlighted the technology developed by FAO to restore degraded lands, including the use of the delphino plough and tractor for large-scale landscape restoration.
The project’s pillars focus on dry land management, community climate resilience, institutional policy strengthening, and project management, with the Federal Ministry of Environment leading the implementation in collaboration with other ministries.
This collaboration is anticipated to not only restore degraded landscapes but also to alleviate challenges such as carbon emissions, greenhouse gases, unemployment, and poverty, providing a comprehensive approach to environmental and socioeconomic issues in Northern Nigeria.