With the aim of developing a strategic action plan and road map towards forest rehabilitation in the country, stakeholders at the Green Recovery Nigeria (GRN) Initiative, after a two-day summit held on June 5 and 6, 2017, in Lagos, called for concerted efforts by the federal and state governments, as well as other stakeholders towards afforestation and reforestation in Nigeria.
The event which was organised by the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) also highlighted that appropriate policies, legislation and institutional framework targeted at increasing Nigeria’s forest cover should be put in place, while sustainable livelihood alternatives should be vigorously explored to reduce pressure on the forest.
The Green Recovery Nigeria (GRN) is an initiative of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) and an intervention model to institute local action and retain a significant proportion of Nigeria’s landmass under forest in response to global call on climate change mitigation due to the growing concerns about the alarming rate of forest degradation and deforestation leading to significant loss of forest cover and the associated wildlife.
Nigeria had about 40 per cent of its total land area under forest cover at independence, but sadly today, the country is left with only about four per cent. This is a far cry from the recommendation by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), urging that 25 per cent of the country total land area should be under forest cover.
Determined to build on more than three decades of conservation leadership, NCF seeks to find lasting solutions and create political will and public support to restore Nigeria’s forest cover to at least 25 per cent for a better future through the GRN.
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