Worried about the depletion of Nigeria’s forest cover from 30 percent at independence to as low as 4 percent at the moment, foremost conservationist in Nigeria, the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), has launched an initiative that will restore the country’s forest cover to, at least, 25 percent.
Known as Green Recovery Nigeria (GRN), the initiative which was launched in Lagos recently, is also aimed to support sustainable livelihood and promote national unity and reverse the effects of climate change that have impacted on the environment and human lives.
Adeniyi Karunwi, NCF’s Director General, explained at the Foundation’s 2016 Annual Dinner Dance to raise funds for the implementation of the reforestation programme, that the initiative became necessary because the forest as a renewable natural resource has diminished because the rate of exploitation has exceeded its regenerative capacity.
He added that without an intervention such as GRN, by 2046, Nigeria’s forestland will be reduced to grasslands and the implication of that on national stability will no doubt be catastrophic as forest dependent people will be stripped of their livelihood.
“With the rate of deforestation, the regulatory role of forests is lost and the result is the effects of climate change that is evident among us,” said Karunwi, listing the hazards as “increasing temperature, rising sea levels, unpredictability of weather pattern among others; with their knock-on effects on the wellbeing of humans, especially in the developing countries, who have been shown to be more vulnerable to these effects.”
Philip Asiodu, President of the Foundation, who unveiled the GRN programme as well as the Foundation’s new logo, said the GRN would involve engagement with the stakeholders and encouraging private and community participation in plantations and forest development.
This, according to him, “is to ensure regeneration of degraded forests through enrichment planting and effective participatory forest management”, noting that the programme was a rare opportunity for corporate organisations and individuals to partner with NCF in any capacity in the drive toward a cleaner and greener economy.
“Nationwide participation is important for the success of the programme and the GRN will be operated under a number of conservation modules tailor-made for corporate organisations and individuals willing to support the project”, he emphasised.
Meanwhile, the Foundation has explained that the introduction of colour to its new logo was to bring to life its essence and elements, with tree and grass added to a full grown Roan Antelope, each symbolizing NCF’s conservation activity. According to Asiodu, efforts were also made to make the logo appeal to NCF’s various membership categories.
The Foundation has been using its now outdated logo since 1992 after it dropped the logo it commenced operations with in 1980 which comprised the head of Roan Antelope.
CHUKA UROKO
