Stakeholders drum support for forest restoration in Nigeria

…task private sector, civil society to invest into the new green economy

There is no gain saying that in many developing countries, more than 70 percent of total energy is consumed by people and industry derives from forests. As a resource, forests provide many important natural resources, such as timber, fuel, rubber, paper and medicinal plants thus enabling the development of new medicines as well as progress in healthcare and science.

Aside this, forests cover also help sustain the quality and availability of freshwater supplies with more than three quarters of the world’s accessible freshwater coming from forested catchments. Meanwhile, trade in timber and other forest products, is estimated at almost 330 billion dollars annually.

While forests cover 31 percent of total land area while at the same time support 80 percent of terrestrial biodiversity that live in them, many of the world’s most threatened and endangered animals live in these forests, making them crucial to sustaining ecosystems. Not only animals live in the forests, as they also provide a home to more than 300 million people worldwide.

Sadly, Nigeria like most other African countries has over the years been experiencing severe environmental degradation and uncontrolled depletion of its natural resources. This form of interaction of Nigerians with their respective environment has left indelible mark on the landscape.

The outcome of this manifestation has led to continued and uncontrolled deforestation, loss of biodiversity, etc. to name but a few which not only had devastating consequences for the environment, the wildfire and communities, but for economies around the world.

Underscoring the variety of life-sustaining services that forests provide, environmental activists, and stakeholders in the environment circles have called for action to protect these resources in a bid to move towards a green economy.

Speaking recently at a public lecture to commemorate the World Environment Day WED) in Lagos, Charles Nosa Osazuwa, Officer-in-charge, United Nations information Centre, Ikoyi, revealed that the theme of WED this year, “Forests: Nature at your Service” is aimed at encouraging forest conservation and sustainable consumption for green growth.

Osasuwa disclosed that as a result of growing global pollution levels ,forests have often come to be referred to as the ‘lungs of the earth’ particularly because deforestation and forest degradation account for nearly 20 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, which forest would absorb if carefully managed.

While stating that main sources of forest degradation include commercial logging, fires and gathering wood for fuel, Osazuwa added that water quality declines with decreases in forest condition and cover, and natural hazards such as floods, landslides, and soil erosion have larger impacts.

In his words “civil societies can play a significant role by raising awareness on forest and supporting grassroots initiatives. Like private companies, individuals can make wise premeditated choices over what products they will buy and only purchasing forest products that originated from sustainable sources. This means checking that furniture, wood, paper and other products you buy are verified as coming from legal sources.

“Most importantly, taking action on forest requires an ongoing commitment to changing lifestyle and therefore is not a one-off action. Your new lifestyle demands that you are forest-conscious in all your choices, consumption and actions. Every activity matters-organize a neighborhood clean-up announce an environmental initiative where you are, motivate people around you to do the same thing. Plan a tree or better yet organize a collective tree-planting effort for your family, walk to work, start recycling drive among your friends… the possibilities are endless,” Osasuwa stated.

Lending his view, Amid Adekunle, President, Nigeria Environmental Society (NES), Lagos State Chapter, stated that despite the functions and services provided by world forest, forest destruction is one of the major environmental challenges the world is currently facing.

Adekunle noted that forest destruction, particularly in tropical forests, has increased rapidly in recent decades with about half the world’s original forest cover been lost over the last 50 years; the most significant cause being human unsystematic sue of its resources.

The President, NES Lagos Chapter stated that “incredibly, 36 million acres of natural forest are lost annually. When we take away the forest, it is not just the trees that go. The entire ecosystem begins to fall apart with dire consequences of all of us. Considering the fact that so much life depends on and lives in the forests, it is very important that forest conservation and management should be a key policy thrust of most government.

“Government should develop and implement policies that encourage sustainable use of forests. They should consider cordoning off areas inhabited by endangered species and promote forest restoration. Urban forest regeneration in cities should be a new form of forest conservation, for example, in the Magodo estate, Lekki Conservation Centre, all in Lagos, should be protected.

“A bill should be initiated to help ensure that this urban forest are protected and preserved for coming generations. Private companies have an opportunity to invest wisely into the new Green economy whilst developing a socially responsible status with its consumers. They can develop procurement processes that buy into sustainably role into managed forests,” Adekunle concluded.

It is estimated that about 6 percent of the world’s remaining forests are protected meaning that thus over 90 percent are still for logging and other forest degradation activities. It is believed that reforestation and restoration projects should be encouraged as the protection of the forest should be a collective responsibility of all. i.e Government, Private companies and individual effort.