Nigeria’s government has unveiled plans to encourage private ownership of forests in a bid to enhance the nation’s GDP, with a focus on sustainable forest management.
In a statement released on Sunday, Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal Abbas, reiterated the urgent need for strategic action to address the country’s pressing forest challenges. “We are facing a lot of critical challenges about the forest in Nigeria, and it calls for drastic steps to tackle such problems,” Abbas stated, underscoring the importance of expanding forest cover to at least 25%, in line with global standards.
Abbas further announced that the Ministry of Environment would support the private sector’s involvement in forestry, but he cautioned against illegal activities like tree felling. “We will not allow anyone felling trees in the forest,” he affirmed, adding that a task force would be set up to raise awareness about the potential of private forest ownership.
The initiative is expected to provide an alternative to the widespread practice of charcoal production from trees, a major concern for forest conservation. “There is a need to find alternative sources for charcoal that do not involve cutting down trees,” Abbas explained, revealing that the Ministry is exploring sustainable alternatives to support the National Clean Cooking Policy.
President of the Association for Forest Conservation and Green Industrial Charcoal Merchants, Mrs. Florence Jones Idowu, highlighted the association’s efforts to secure Nigeria’s Forest Stewardship Council certification and compliance with the European Union’s Deforestation Regulatory standards. “This certification ensures that our forests adhere to global standards, helping to curb deforestation while promoting sustainable timber production,” Idowu said.
