Ministry plants 10 indigenous tree species on 834.6 hectares of land

The Federal Ministry of Environment has taken a giant step to ensure effective coordination and better management of the environment. HELEN OJI reports.

Effective coordination 

The Federal Ministry of Environment has achieved effective coordination and better management of the environment through the former minister of environment Surveyor Alhaji Suleiman Zarma, in the environment sector. Ministry was charge with the responsibility of protecting the natural environment against climate change, pollution and land degradation as well as conservation of biodiversity for sustainable development in the country.

Nigeria develops in harmony with the environment and to ensure environmental protection, natural resources conservation for sustainable development. Nigeria’s rich natural environment makes the protection and sustainable use of her resources a high priority. Federal ministry of environment therefore focuses on formulation and enforcing policies and regulations around the following areas.The ministry has prepared a National policy on erosion and flood control consisting of three documents these are national policy, action plan and the technical guidelines which is now the policy that guides the implementation of erosion and flood control project in the country and clearly states responsibilities of the three tiers of the government as well as other relevant stakeholders.

Enforcement of environmental laws

Flood early warning system programme is geared towards effective environmental governance and adequate nationwide flood forecasting and monitoring to provide flood warning in advance to reduce flood disaster impact and ensure prompt response to impending flood

According to the Minister, some of the noted achievements including the restoration of degraded sites, increasing the nation’s vegetation cover, conservation of biodiversity, creation of environmental awareness and enforcement of environmental laws.

He said that one of the major achievements recorded by the ministry in the last four years was flood prevention and management of coastal shoreline.

“The policy guides the implementation of Erosion/Flood Control Projects in the country and clearly states responsibilities of the three tiers of government and other relevant stakeholders,’’ the minister said.

The minister said that the ministry installed functional flood early warning system equipment in some flood-prone states to ensure effective environmental governance.

Reducing environmental pollution

The minister said that the ministry had planted 10 indigenous tree species on 834.6 hectares of land through its National Afforestation Project in 2018.

According to him, the ministry has produced 4.1 million of assorted forest and fruit tree seedlings for various afforestation and land rehabilitation and restoration projects.

He said that it also conducted research into biotechnological approach to mass production and multiplication of endangered and economic tree plant.

“Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) which is one of the agencies of the ministry, has supported the development of a framework for adoption of Liquefied Petroleum Gas as low carbon alternative to firewood and kerosene.

“This is aimed at reducing environmental pollution from use of kerosene as well as curtail tree-falling for use as firewood,’’ the minister said.

The ministry flagged off sanitary inspection of Federal government premises nationwide in 2018, in collaboration with environmental health officers registration council (EHORECON) and Abuja environmental protection board (AEPB). Development of draft national policy on solid waste management and development of draft national policy on plastic life cycle management.

“Nigeria’s is a party to the three climate change treaties (UNFCCC, Kyoto protocol and Paris agreement) has been reporting to the convention through her First and second national communications. Nigeria’s third national communication is being finalized and process for development of the BUR2 and forth national communication has commenced; the national action plan NAP to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought was reviewed and aligned with the 2015-2025 strategy to enhance the implementation of the United Nations Convention to combat desertification. Land degradation neutrality target setting completed.

He further stated that Nigeria has secured notable accomplishment in climate change issues including improved access to global environmental facility, the issuance of the sovereign green bond.

“Nigeria is championing the fight against illegal wildlife trade in West Africa Region which has to the development of a West African strategy on combating wildlife crimes to be presented at the COP 18 of cities. Protected areas and national security,” he stressed.

Environmental experts estimate that Nigeria may have lost as much as 90 per cent of her original forest cover due to human activities.  A significant portion of Nigeria’s remaining tropical forest is found in Cross River State. However, this forest is threatened by increasing deforestation due to unsustainable agriculture and illegal timber exploitation.

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the Cross River State Forestry Commission (CRSFC) have raised an alarm over the rate of deforestation in the Afi River Forest Reserve (ARFR), which covers approximately 380 sq. km, arguing that if care is not taken the areas may be completely lost in the foreseeable future.

Sadly, the Afi River Forest Reserve located in Boki Local Government Area as well as other forest areas in the state such as Ukpon River Forest Reserve, Iko-Esai, Ekuri, and Agoi community forests are lavishly being degraded as more logging is taking place and lots of timber are being taken out unchecked.

In a letter to the Cross River State Forestry Commission dated April 4, 2019 and signed by the Director, Cross River landscape, WCS Nigeria programme, Dr Inaoyom Imong said, “I write to bring to your attention massive deforestation of parts of the Afi River Forest Reserve that is currently taking place.

“In March 2019, the WCS received reports of the bulldozing of large tracts of intact forest in the southeastern axis of Afi River Forest Reserve, purportedly to establish a cocoa plantation by a group whose identity and affiliation is yet to be determined. The reports indicate that work started after holding discussions with Abo Ogbagante village which appears in support of the bulldozing that has continued unhindered since early March 2019”.The letter further explained that, “ WCS is concerned by the ongoing deforestation which threatens to destroy this critical forest corridor. The loss of this corridor will have severe consequences for the long term conservation of the population of critically endangered Cross River gorillas and other endangered species in the Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary”.

Accordingly, “the WCS called on the Cross River State Forestry Commission to take measures urgently to stop this illegal activity and save ARFR from further destruction”.

Commenting on the deforestation, the Country Director WCS, Mr. Andrew Dunn, said, “the remaining gorillas in Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary and the Mbe Mountains are endangered by the current deforestation going on inside Afi River Forest Reserve, at Abo Ogbagante village.”

Dunn said, “We fully support government policy on agriculture but feel very strongly that new cocoa should be planted on areas that have already been degraded and not on the state’s remaining forest”.

Equally reacting to the level of deforestation in the state, the Chairman of the State’s Forestry Commission, Mr. Bette Obi said, “Our reserves are no go area but I cannot assure you that they are still 100 percent the way they should be. As far as that place is not de-reserved whatever they are doing there is illegal. We are on top of the matter and we are summoning the community to come here with those that are concerned so that we interact with them.”

In a related development, the Federal Government has announced plans to review its forest management policy to check indiscrimate felling of trees.

The anticipated policy is expected to promote equitable, and enhance the nation’s forest assets in a way that the felling of trees does not have any adverse effects on the biodiversity, productivity as well as ecological process.

Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote made the revelation when a delegation of the Association of Charcoal Exporters of Nigeria led by its president Dele Fagbola paid her a courtesy visit in Abuja.

She also stated that government was aware that certification will add economic value to the products been exported and this would in turn add to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Leave a Reply