The workshop which was held in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital had as it theme “Promoting Integrated Landscape Management and Sustalnable Food Systems in the Niger Delta Region in Nigeria, specifically in Cross River and Ondo States.”
ABOUT GEF-7 FOLUR-IP
The landscape of Nigeria’s Niger Delta region holds tremendous ecological significance, recognized
internationally for its lowland tropical rainforests with high conservation value and carbon stock.
However, the region is experiencing alarming rates of deforestation, primarily driven by agricultural expansion, especially in Cocoa and Oil Palm cultivation.
In response to this critical situation, Nigeria has actively sought to participate in the GEF-7 Food Systems, Land Use, and Restoration Impact Program.
The project is a 345 million Dollars seven- year initiative supported by Global Environment Facility led by the World Bank with the Nigerian Government and the participating states providing counterpart funding.
It seeks to harness the production of Cocoa and oil palm while conserving, restoring degraded forest ecosystem in the Niger Delta Region of the country.
According to the representative of the interim country representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to Nigeria and ECOWAS, the FAO Climate Specialist Mrs. Nifemi Ogunkua the Project is designed to transform the Niger Delta’s cocoa and palm oil production systems.
“The GEF-7’s FOLUR-IP Project is designed to transform the Niger Delta’s cocoa and palm oil production systems and landscapes towards sustainability and resilience, delivering multiple environmental and social benefits through its
compartmental activities”
She listed the components of the project as, Development of integrated landscape management (|LM) systems, Promoting sustainable and inclusive cocoa and oil palm value chains, Conservation and restoration of degraded forest ecosystems, Knowledge management and M&E.
She said the GEF-7 FOLUR-IP project when implemented would yield numerous benefits, such as 795,200 hectares of landscapes covered by Integrated Land Management plan.
“110,000 hectares of land under sustainable practices with at least a 20% increase in the yield of cocoa and oil palm per hectare by project closure and 10,000 people would benefit from income diversification interventions, with a target of at least 50% women” she added.
ENVIRONMENT
On his part the Minister of State for Environment Mr. Iziaq Salako said Nigeria is committed to restoring 4 million hectares of degraded lands.
“Nigeria has prioritized sustainable Agricultural production through investment in climate-smart agriculture and sustainable management to improve and restore degraded lands and enhance resilience in food and commodity systems. Nigeria joined the African Forest landscape restoration initiative (AFR 100) and is committed to restoring 4 million hectares of degraded land”.
He stated that efforts must be upheld and sustained through developmental projects such as the GEF7 FOLUR-IP Project with a broad target of achieving sustainable food production for domestic consumption, improved livelihood and food exportation opportunities without farmers encroaching on protected forests and conservation areas.
The workshop had as its objectives; to Present the GEF-7 FOLUR-IP for Nigeria project to the public, Familiarize involved stakeholders and partners with the technical details of the project, including the development, objective, target outcomes, outputs, and activities, and the project implementation arrangements amongst others.
Oyenike Oyeniyi
