A non-governmental organisation, Wild Africa, has said Nigeria experienced a 12 per cent decrease in tree cover since 2001, equivalent to 1.25 million hectares.
Speaking on the fringes of the International Day of Forests with the theme, “Forests and Foods: Forests’ Pivotal Roles in Food Security, Nutrition and Livelihoods,” the group called on the Nigerian government, the private sector and conservation organisations to intensify efforts in protecting the nation’s forests.
According to the group, the nation serves as a refuge for the continent’s most iconic wildlife species.
The spokesman, Wild Africa, West Africa, Dr Mark Ofua, said if deforestation continues unchecked, the nation risks crossing an irreversible threshold that will devastate both people and nature.
“The forest is more than trees – it is life, shelter and the heartbeat of our planet. When we protect it, we protect our future. But sadly, Nigeria’s forests are disappearing at an alarming rate, taking with them critical biodiversity, essential ecosystem services and the livelihoods of millions.
“Nigeria has experienced a 12 per cent decrease in tree cover in the last two decades, equivalent to 1.25 million hectares. In addition, approximately 60 per cent of the forest loss is due to logging, agricultural expansion, mainly through slash-and-burn farming practices and commercial plantation developments,” he stated.
The group further argued that forests sustain life by providing food, fuel, medicinal ingredients, income and employment, especially to host communities closer to forests.
“They also protect our water resources, sequesters carbon emissions from the atmosphere, supports soil fertility and facilitates crop pollination.
“Across the continent, forests are disappearing, with deforestation occurring at more than four million hectares per year, twice the world’s average. The rapid loss of Africa’s forests threatens biodiversity, people’s livelihoods, food security and climate stability,” he said.
