Nigeria, Others to Benefit From FAO’s $18m GEF Project

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has said Nigeria and four other countries will benefit from its $18 million Global Environment Facility (GEF) project.

According to FAO, GEF, which comprises three new projects in Nigeria, Venezuela, Malawi, Mozambique, and Uganda, is expected to improve the management of protected areas, protect biodiversity in lowland forests, and build water security and resilience.

Speaking, FAO Deputy Director-General, Maria Helena Semedo said resilient and productive land and aquatic ecosystems are the foundation of sustainable agri-food systems transformation, adding that the approval of the three projects would strengthen ability to help countries to move on a path of sustainability that leaves no one behind.

According to her, the project in Nigeria would improve conservation, sustainable use, and restoration of lowland forest landscape to protect globally significant biodiversity and strengthen the sustainable livelihoods of local communities.

“The project will also improve the management of the threatened one million hectare landscape encompassing 12 forest reserves and the Okomu National Park. One of the aims is to replicate successes across the full Nigerian lowland forests eco-region.” However, it was gathered that the approval of the three projects marked the end of the GEF’s 2018-2022 funding cycle, with over $600 million in grant financing secured for member countries.

Agro Nigeria