The Nigerian Conservation Foundation has stated that it planted 184,000 trees in 2024 across different ecosystems to advance its goal of restoring Nigeria’s forest cover to 25 per cent by 2047.
This was recently revealed during the Dialogue, which coincided with the 36th Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, where members and other stakeholders convened to discuss the preservation of Nigeria’s natural heritage.
The President of the Board of Trustees of the NCF, Izoma Asiodu, noted that the year started out well with the implementation of the Foundation’s programmes and projects.
He said, “Prominent among them is the hosting of the 22nd edition of the Chief S.L. Edu Memorial Lecture, the Foundation’s flagship advocacy tool. The discussion on ‘Carbon Credits: Opportunities and Pitfalls’ was timely and helped set the tone for the Foundation’s activities in 2024. Two PhD students were awarded research grants to intensify their work and come up with solutions that better protect the environment. For this, we are thankful to the S.L. Edu Family and Chevron Nigeria Limited.
“Through the Green Recovery Nigeria programme, we continued to drive national reforestation efforts, restoring degraded landscapes and giving life a new hope. In 2024 alone, we planted 184,000 trees across various ecosystems, reaffirming our goal of restoring Nigeria’s forest cover to 25 per cent by 2047. Beyond planting trees, we also paid attention to the needs of the host communities on a per-need basis. As we carried out restoration projects, we provided support to the local communities. In some places, it was the provision of water; in others, livelihood support to help improve the living conditions of these communities.
“The borehole installation in Maja-Kura, Yobe State, stands out as a profound symbol of our impact, restoring both landscapes and livelihoods in one of Nigeria’s most climate-vulnerable communities. Under the species conservation, we expanded our conservation efforts to protect Nigeria’s most threatened species. From supporting Cross River gorilla research scholarships at the University of Calabar down south to the protection of wild cats through the Kainji Lake National Park project up north, NCF has been at the forefront of safeguarding our unique biodiversity. With regard to climate change, we amplified our voice globally and nationally. Our participation at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, and our grassroots engagements, like the Ibadan Climate Caravan Walk and Osun Climate Awareness Walk, show that NCF is influencing climate action from the community level to the global stage.”
Meanwhile, Chairman of the National Executive Council, Justice R.I.B. Adebiyi, said in the face of the uncertainties and global pressures of the past year, NCF remained steadfast, resilient, and forward-looking.
She said, “The year 2024 was a pivotal one, marked by several accomplishments that reinforced our leadership in the conservation space in Nigeria. Through our flagship Green Recovery Nigeria programme, we achieved a remarkable milestone by planting 184,000 trees across different parts of the country. Our conservation efforts included protecting endangered species under our Saving Species in Peril programme. Through concerted efforts, we supported the development of the National Elephant Action Plan, continued our work safeguarding Cross River gorillas, lions, leopards, sea turtles, and other critical species, and implemented community-led initiatives that are helping stem biodiversity loss in key habitats across Nigeria.
“Our actions in tackling climate change gained even greater momentum in 2024. NCF’s active participation at the COP29 Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, and the various local advocacy initiatives, such as the Ibadan Climate Caravan Walk and Osun Climate Awareness Walk, demonstrated our strong presence at both the national and international stages. We continued to build capacity across communities, reaching thousands of beneficiaries through sustainable livelihood projects that created 7,500 direct and indirect green jobs across Nigeria.”
