The Nation Newspaper

Tag: deforestation

  • ‘Deforestation rules compliance in place’

    ‘Deforestation rules compliance in place’

    Federal Government has launched a  task force to ensure compliance with European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which focuses on deforestation-free agricultural products.

    Speaking at the inauguration yesterday in Abuja, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari,  said deforestation and forest degradation contribute to climate change and biodiversity loss.

    Kyari noted the task force aligns with our resolve to address these issues in line with EUDR. The regulation, in effect since June 29, 2023, requires compliance by December.

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    He said regulation targets risk commodities; timber, soya, palm oil, coffee, cocoa, cattle, and derived goods; chocolate, leather, and furniture.

    The minister noted firms must comply with due diligence before placing these commodities on EU market.

    He stressed importance of collaboration in setting up a database for traceability, forest mapping, and due diligence to ensure exports are deforestation-free.

  • Nasarawa youths engaged to check deforestation

    Nasarawa youths engaged to check deforestation

    Nasarawa State Government has engaged more than 1,500 youths to guard against illegal felling of trees and other activities that can deplete the state’s forest resources, Mr Gabriel Aka’aka, the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, announced.

    The commissioner made the announcement at a news conference in Lafia on Wednesday.

    Aka’aka said the move was part of the state government’s effort toward implementing World Bank-assisted programme on Reducing Emission Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) in the state.

    He explained that REDD+ programme was aimed at reducing greenhouse emission and mitigating the effects of climate change.

    According to him, the project will check depletion of forest resources through afforestation and sustain
    existing forest reserves.

    He said it would go a long way to prevent flooding and control soil erosion.

    The commissioner noted that the state government had paid its counterpart fund for the programme, designed to run for eight years.

    He added that government had also provided a befitting office complex, as well as inaugurated a steering committee to facilitate smooth take-off of the programme.

    According to him, a technical committee and state project management unit for the programme will soon be inaugurated for successful implementation of the project.

    “We have commenced stakeholders engagement and community sensitisation around forest reserves designated for the programme in the state,’’ Aka’ka said.

    He said three forests have been designated for the pilot scheme of the programme in Wamba, Nasarawa-Toto and Obi Local Government Area of the state.

    “We have been educating community stakeholders about the importance of the programme and the need for them to support efforts at revamping the forest by not farming and grazing in designated locations.

    “These community engagements have so far yielded positive results.”

  • State govts, wood exporters partner to fight deforestation

    Tropical Wood Exporters Association of Nigeria (TWEAN) is partnering some state governments to fight deforestation and boost the economy.

    The deal, it was learnt, is to regenerate the depleted forests in the country and reduce the effect of climate change on the environment.

    The group is said to have acquired over 1,000 hectares of land for tree planting in Ogun and Ekiti states to boost the economy.

    The exporters, it was gathered, have exceeded the Federal Government policy of cut one and plant two trees by cutting one and planting seven.

    The exporters are also collaborating with Osun,Kogi,Kwara, Taraba, Benue, Edo, Akwa-Ibom Jigawa, Katsina, Niger, Oyo and Ondo state governments to create tree farms in the states.

    Its Secretary-General, Mr. Joseph Odiase said the group, in collaboration with some state governments, are set to reduce the impact of deforestation on the economy and the environment.

    He said the group wass willing to partner the Federal Government to ensure that the effects of climate change are reduced in the country.

    He said the issue of deforestation had become a major concern to many Nigerians adding that wood exporters will support government in the move to regenerate the nation’s forest.

    Odiase said: “We must protect and preserve the forest for this and future generations because these forests also help in the sustenance and preservation of the environment and the economy.

    “We are working with the Ministry of Environment. It has promised to provide technical support when it is needed.

    “In as much as our businesses are important to us, we cannot jeopardise the environment for economic gains because we are not the only ones operating in the economy.

    “We will not only abide with cut one and plant two trees policy of the government, we are also embarking on a massive forest cultivation programme; the project is a fulfillment of our commitment to the Minister of Environment at the national stakeholders’ meeting on forestation.”

    The group’s President, Mr. Ibitayo Omotoye, said his members would abide by the rules and regulation of the government on cutting, planting and exporting wood.

    Also, the Chairman, Processed Wood Producers and Markers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Ademola Oyeleke, said what would grow the wood export industry without jeopardising the government policy on economy and the environment would be given the necessary attention in their operation.

  • Minister declares zero tolerance for deforestation 

    The Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed, has declared readiness to convene an emergency forest and biodiversity dialogue with stakeholders to reinforce zero tolerance for deforestation and degradation.

    Mohammed, who said this during the celebration of International Day of Forest in Abuja, added that all commissioners of environment, directors of forestry, Ministry of Finance and relevant NGOs would be involved in the dialogue aimed at putting a stop to activities causing deforestation.

    She said forest in wetlands depends on water sources while the forest ecosystem sustains water quality and helps mitigate the risks of water related disasters.

    Lamenting the indiscriminate damage to forests in the nation, the minister said: “Many see forest as source of revenue generation with little or nothing ploughed back for forest development.

    “Activities of timber merchants, especially illegal loggers, continue to worsen the situation and the Ministry has zero tolerance for the damage done to the forest in Nigeria.”

    She described the rate of deforestation and forest degradation arising from intensive logging of timber and fuel wood extraction as unacceptable

    Director General of Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), Adeniyi Karunwi,  said if about two-third of the estimated population of 170 million Nigerians individually plant or adopt a tree within their precincts, according the trees the needed care, the nation will be on the pathway towards having 25 per cent of its landmass under forest.

    He said it was important to be interested in Trees outside the Forest (TOF), simply defined as trees in cities, farms, along the roads and places other than forests, saying they play critical roles in urban greening and microclimate management.

    Karunwi said myriads of opportunities forest offers had exposed it to “unhealthy exploitation by forest-dependent population beyond its regenerative capacity.

    “This unsustainable extraction and the attendant dwindling stock of forest resource have made calls for its conservation.”

  • Ogun goes tough on deforestation

    Ogun goes tough on deforestation

    •To encourage private participation in forestry

    The Ogun State government has vowed to go tough on deforestation in the state in addition to encouraging private participation in forest reserve development.

    The state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, stated this during a meeting of the National Executive Council of Forestry Association of Nigeria (FAN) held at the Cultural Centre in Abeokuta, the state capital.

    Represented by the commissioner for forestry, Mr. Kola Lawal, the governor said close monitoring of the forest reserve would be embarked upon, adding that massive deforestation of large expanse of forest, over exploitation of wood resources, destruction of forest by native nomadic cattle rearers and excessive hunting of wild animals would soon be a thing of the past.

    He said the present administration had done so much not only to address the problems, but to gradually eradicate the challenges through proactive measures that would take into consideration the well being of rural dwellers, communities as well as the restoration of the forest in the state.

    He added that in the last four years, his administration had employed more forest guards to patrol the forest, saying that the State would encourage private participation in forestry development in the State.

    He said: “The mission of the state government in forestation is to encourage private participation in forestry development, such as the Lafarge/Ogun partnership on carbon reduction through Agro-Forestry Program.”

    The governor further disclosed that the State would continue to strengthen forest institutions, extend forest reserves and training of task force against the eradication of cocoa farms, review and implementation of forestry and wild life laws.

  • ‘Nigeria loses N10.5b to deforestation, others’

    Nigeria loses N10.5 billion yearly to environmental challenges, the Director-General, National Agency for the Great Green Wall (GGW), Goni Ahmed, has said.

    These challenges, among which were deforestation, drought and desertification,  he said, put the means of livelihood of 46.4 million people living in the 11 frontline states in the north at risk.

    The Federal Government through the Great Green Wall programme, is fighting deser-tification in Kebbi, Borno, Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Adamawa, Katsina, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara states.

    He said the deterioration of resources over the years, had undermined Nigeria’s efforts in ensuring stable and sustainable future for them.

    Ahmed, who spoke at the launch of the GGW school club/tree planting campaign at Government Girls Secondary School Dutse, Abuja, called for collaboration effort to tackle desertification in the north.

    He said the agency took the tree planting campaign to the school in order to create awareness among school children on the need to plant trees to combat the problem of land degradation and climate change.

    “Desertification is a major constraint to economic and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals,” he said, adding that the World Bank estimated that over N10.5 billion is lost annually through deserti-fication, deforestation and drought.

    “This progressive deterioration of resources over the years has undermined Nigeria’s efforts in ensuring stable and sustainable future for the affected population in the 11 frontline states.

    “The people living in this region are heavily depend on land, water and vegetation resources for their livelihoods which are fast deteriorating as a result of desertification.

    “Ifwe can collectively take action against deforestation and other related environmental issues, we will not only improve land productivity, but will provide the bedrock for agriculture growth, create employment leading to a positive cycle of economic growth,” he added.