FAO-GEF7 Trains Nigerian Stakeholders to Fight Forest Loss Digitally
Korede Abdullah 
ABEOKUTA, Nigeria – Nigeria’s battle against forest degradation receives a digital boost as the FAO-GEF7 Biodiversity Project trains government and environmental stakeholders on geospatial tools for data-driven forest and biodiversity management.
The training, held in Abeokuta and organised in collaboration with the Ogun State Government, focuses on Collect Earth and Mapathon Data Collection tools, which support satellite-based land-use monitoring and evidence-based planning.
Chief Technical Adviser to the project, Professor Segun Oladoye, says technical capacity remains critical to reversing biodiversity loss nationwide.
“Effective forest restoration depends on reliable data. These tools help institutions plan better, coordinate actions and make informed decisions,” Oladoye says.
He explains that the Global Environment Facility prioritises biodiversity conservation globally, adding that the FAO-GEF7 project integrates capacity building as a core component.
Ogun State Commissioner for Forestry, Engr. Taiwo Oludotun, warns that forests face escalating threats from illegal logging, land encroachment, climate change and unsustainable land use.
“Data-driven governance allows us to track land-use changes accurately and respond faster to environmental threats,” Oludotun says.
Participants from federal and state agencies across Ogun, Ondo, Edo and Delta states describe the training as timely, noting that geospatial skills will strengthen institutional monitoring and accountability.
They urge sustained government and donor support to ensure that digital tools translate into measurable improvements in forest conservation and biodiversity protection.
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