The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) has entered into a partnership with Climate Action Africa (CAA) to restore Nigeria’s forest cover to 25 per cent by planting one billion trees.
To seal the agreement, both parties initiated a commemorative tree planting exercise during the CAAF24 forum held recently at Lekki Conservation Centre (LCC), Lagos, which was part of efforts to boost NCF’s Green Recovery Nigeria (GRN) Programme.
NCF has planted 276,860 through the programme in 2023. GRN, a 30-year programme that started in 2017 will last till 2047 and promotes actions to curb further deforestation and forest degradation.
NCF Director General, Joseph Onoja, who was represented by Director of Business and Communications, Uchenna Achunine, lamented that before independence, Nigeria’s forest cover was over 25 per cent, but has decreased between four and seven per cent.
Achunine said restoring Nigeria’s forest cover involves substantial resources and the foundation is collaborating with government ministries, corporate and grant organisations to plant thousands of trees, and leveraging their extensive experience to support CAA’s ambitious goal of planting one billion trees.
“NCF has now become the warehouse of tree planting in Nigeria. Our GRN project is not just about tree planting. It is also about forest management, afforestation, and regeneration. We’re working with CAA in achieving their objective of one billion trees,” he said.
LCC Project Manager, Stephen Aina, listed the five species of trees planted as Khaya senegalensis, known as African Mahogany and primarily a specie for timber threatened in forests; African Nutmeg (Monodora myristica), valued for culinary and medicinal uses; Eucalyptus, Cashew, and Mango.
According to him, these plant species were chosen for their ecological significance and practical benefits, highlighting efforts to sustain biodiversity and support local needs.
CAA Chairperson, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, emphasised the importance of preserving ecosystems and raising awareness about climate resilience.
Ezekwesili highlighted the impacts of climate change including a reduction in agricultural productivity, drying rivers and seas, wildlife loss, and societal disruptions. She said flooding and desertification are visible challenges affecting communities, which in turn affects agriculture productivity.
She further urged the younger generation to preserve nature by participating in tree planting in their various spaces. “These are convergent and efficient so that the partnership leads to mobilising the younger generation to adapt to the issues of climate change.”
“NCF has done public good in its 48-year existence. The existence of this national reserve in our country contributes to the global mandate, and targets that the world sets for itself to enable the ecosystem not to be devastated,” she said.
The former Minister of Handicrafts, Tourism and Culture, Mali, Ramatoulaye Ndiaye, who is committed to putting nature, people’s lives and livelihoods at the heart of climate action, expressed excitement in partaking in the tree planting initiative. “Today, we have started a new movement, because this is a global action not only an African action.”
CAA Executive Director, Oluchi Mbah, said the organisation had sought expert guidance to ensure the right trees are planted for environmental sustainability.
“We are imbibing a culture of eco-conscious sustainable practices that would accelerate our transition to a green economy. Through collective intelligence, innovative strategies, and creating cross-sectional partnerships, we are pioneering transformative change at the intersection of Africa’s resilience restoration and green, sustainable socio-economic development.”
