The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) has highlighted the critical need for immediate measures to combat deforestation, reporting that Nigeria has experienced a loss of nearly 90 per cent of its forest area within the last thirty years.
This concern was voiced in a statement released on Saturday in Lagos by Mr. Kunle Olawoyin, the Director of Communications, Policy and Advocacy, coinciding with the International Day of Forests, observed annually on March 21.
Olawoyin pointed out that the 2026 theme, “Forests and Economies,” emphasizes the vital role forests play in sustaining the environment, supporting livelihoods, and fostering national development.
He indicated that Nigeria currently faces one of the highest rates of deforestation globally, primarily driven by unsustainable logging practices, the expansion of agriculture, and urban development.
He further elaborated that over the last three decades, the nation has seen its forest cover diminish by nearly 90 per cent, leaving less than 10 per cent of the original forest landscape intact.
Olawoyin also noted the continuing pressure on the country's remaining forest reserves due to the significant reliance of a large segment of the population on fuelwood and charcoal for energy.
He underscored the essential nature of forests for agricultural productivity, water system management, and providing sustenance for millions of Nigerians, particularly those in rural communities.
However, he observed that the forestry sector's importance is often underestimated in national development strategies.
The primary factors contributing to forest loss, according to Olawoyin, include illegal logging, weak enforcement of environmental legislation, growing demand for land and energy resources, and insufficient investment in forest restoration efforts.
Olawoyin cautioned that the absence of swift and coordinated interventions could lead to severe environmental and economic repercussions.
He referenced the Director-General of NCF, Dr. Joseph Onoja, who stressed the indispensable link between forests and the survival of humanity, as well as climate stability.
“We are all aware that forests are crucial for life on Earth. The fundamental question remains: why are we destroying the very systems that support our existence?” he queried.
He advocated for an cessation of the indiscriminate exploitation of forest resources and urged all stakeholders to safeguard what he termed “the lungs of the planet.”
He mentioned that the NCF is actively engaged in implementing programmes designed to reverse forest depletion, such as the Green Recovery Nigeria Programme, which aims to restore Nigeria's forest cover to 25 per cent by the year 2047.
Olawoyin reported that the foundation, in collaboration with its partners, successfully planted 265,561 trees across various ecological zones in 2025.
He detailed that other initiatives include fostering community-based forest management practices, implementing biodiversity conservation projects, and building partnerships with governmental bodies and the private sector to promote sustainable land use and alternative income sources.
He appealed to all levels of government to strengthen forest governance, enforce environmental laws rigorously, and increase financial support for conservation and restoration initiatives.
Furthermore, he called upon the private sector to invest in sustainable operational methods and nature-based solutions, while encouraging individuals and communities to support tree-planting drives and adopt responsible resource consumption habits.
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