New National
New National Forest Policy to Preserve
Ecosystems–Environment Minister
- The Minister of Environment, Dr. Mohammed Mahmood Abubakar has
said that the new National Forest Policy (NFP), recently approved
by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) will greatly assist the
country in the sustainable management of its vast forest
resources.
He added that the NFP will also help to preserve Nigeria’s rich
ecosystems as well as boost the current efforts of addressing
various Climate Change challenges in the country.
Dr. Abubakar, noted that the policy, which was approved last
Wednesday by FEC, had earlier been subjected to reviews by various
stakeholders before it was endorsed and adopted by the National
Council on Environment (NCE) in November 2019, after assessing its
diverse benefits.
According to him, the new policy is anchored on the need for
continuous socio-economic development that provides optimal
benefits to the people and government of Nigeria in a sustainably
managed environment that would contribute to achieving the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“It is guided by a vision of sustainable management of forest
ecosystems, socio-economic growth, environmental sustainability and
provision of goods and services for domestic and export purposes,
all for the nation’s benefit,” he stated.
Dr. Mahmood Abubakar regretted that the country’s forest area
has been on a continuous decline since 1970, having dropped from
10% to 6% presently, noting that its contributions to the Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) is increasing, as revenue is being generated
through controlled export of wood and other forest products.
He opined that, “unsustainable exploitation, deforestation,
extensive agriculture, population growth, infrastructural
development, fuel wood extraction, forest fires, and obsolete
National Forest Policy, are some of the factors responsible for the
decline in the country’s forest resources.”
The Minister, disclosed that the 2006 National Forest Policy
sets strategies for growing the sector but did not take cognizance
of emerging and contemporary development needs and has thus become
obsolete.
“Moreover, the national target of increasing Nigeria’s total
forest cover from 10% to 25% by 2020, and the need to use forests
as a veritable carbon sink to address Climate change, make it
necessary to review the 2006 National Forest Policy to a new policy
that is all inclusive and in line with current global standard.
“
He noted that the forestry sector remains an important natural
capital asset in the attainment of national development objectives,
particularly in boosting economic activities, employment creation,
income generation, provision of goods and services, poverty
reduction, environmental security and sustainability.
Mahmood Abubakar equally added that the overall objective of the
NFP is to achieve sustainable management of forests and forest
resources, that would ensure sustainable increase in the economic,
social and environmental benefits for the country’s present and
future generation. (END)
Saghir el Mohammed
Director Press
Federal Ministry of Environment