…Decry Nigeria’s annual loss of 400,000 hectares of forest

By Chioma Onuegbu, Uyo

An international civil society organization, Solidaridad, has engaged experts and stakeholders in the agricultural subsector to identify actionable strategies to support smallholder oil palm farmers and processors, promote sustainable livelihoods, and advance forest conservation and ecosystem restoration.

Key among these strategies is the establishment of a robust framework to integrate Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM) with Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) in four target states: Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Cross River, and Kogi.

At a two-day engagement workshop held in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, participants emphasized the need to strengthen policy and institutional support, enhance multi-stakeholder collaboration, and design sustainable PES models for the four states.

The workshop brought together representatives from the Forestry Departments of various institutions, including Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike; University of Uyo (UNIUYO); and the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN). Participants also included experts from agricultural and forestry services departments.

Dire Deforestation Trends

The experts noted that forest ecosystems in the four states face severe threats from deforestation and degradation due to agricultural expansion, logging, and unsustainable land use practices.

“Nigeria loses approximately 400,000 hectares of forest annually, with Cross River State accounting for 9,176 hectares (about 2.3%) of the country’s remaining tropical rainforest,” the participants revealed, citing an annual deforestation rate of 3.7 percent.

They identified integrating CBFM with PES as a viable solution to combat deforestation, enhance biodiversity, and improve smallholder livelihoods.

“Strengthening policy frameworks, fostering collaboration among stakeholders, and piloting innovative PES models are essential steps for achieving sustainable development goals in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Enugu, and Kogi States,” the experts concluded.

Solidaridad’s Commitment

Speaking at the workshop, Mr. Kene Onukwube, Programme Manager for Oil Palm at Solidaridad Nigeria, reaffirmed the organization’s dedication to achieving deforestation-free oil palm production in the four states.

He outlined the workshop’s main objectives, which included aligning community-based forest protection plans with state forest protection regulations and developing a comprehensive position paper on CBFM and PES.

“The position paper will serve as a guiding document for the four states, helping to implement forest protection regulations and ecosystem conservation while intensifying advocacy efforts,” Onukwube explained.

He stressed that Solidaridad and its partners remain committed to driving this agenda, ensuring equitable and sustainable outcomes for both communities and ecosystems.

Call to Action

Participants called on policymakers, stakeholders, and local communities to collaborate in implementing these strategies, emphasizing the importance of preserving Nigeria’s forests to achieve environmental and economic sustainability.