ZHUL-QI’DA 2, 1429 A.H.
THURSDAY OCTOBER 30 2008
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Nigeria loses 409,700 hectares of forest annually -- Minister
Mrs. Halima Alao, minister of environment, housing and urban development, has said in Abuja that the country lost about 409,700 hectares of forest annually between 1990 and 2000.
The minister who was represented by Mr Chidindu Ozo, Director, Policy Analysis in the ministry, made this known in her remark at a one-day National Dialogue on Environment organised by NEPAD Nigeria.
``Deforestation in Nigeria is occurring at an unprecedented pace.
According to a report by FAO in 2005, Nigeria has the world's highest deforestation rate of primary forests.
``Between 1990 and 2000, Nigeria lost an average of 409,700 hectares of forest per year. This amounts to an average annual deforestation rate of 2.38 per cent,'' she said.
She said that the primary cause of deforestation in the dry lands of the country was traceable to domestic forces, particularly agricultural production and local demands for fuel wood.
``Generally, the population burns more than 40.5 million tonnes of firewood each year, destroying more than 400,000 hectares of forest.
``Deforestation contributes to the process of desertification and progressive decline of the productive capacities of natural resources upon which majority of the population depend for livelihood.
``Without adequate concerted efforts toward tackling the problems of deforestation and desertification on greater scale, the dry land areas of the country could be at risk of ecological disaster,'' she said.
Alao said that tackling the deforestation and desertification problem in the country was essential to the achievement of the 7-point agenda, the MDGs and the NEPAD environmental initiative.
``It is also critical to the realisation of the vision 20 2020 that aims at catapulting the nation into one of the 20 largest economies in the world,'' she added.
The minister, however, enjoined participants at the dialogue to evolve workable solutions that would ensure a credible road map to effective tackling of environmental problems.
In his address of welcoming, Amb. Tunji Olagunju, Special Adviser to the President on NEPAD, said that the key objective of NEPAD initiative was to combat poverty and contribute to socio-economic development in the country.
``NEPAD Nigeria wishes to call for the global adoption of a coherent action plan and strategies to address the environmental priorities of the country.
``The Environment is seen as a separate issue from development rather than an approach that cuts across and must be considered by all development sectors resulting to short term interests,'' he said.
The Adviser, who was represented by Mr Emmanuel Ogbile, former Director in NEPAD, said that the present administration was aware of the situation and had taken the necessary steps though its 7-point agenda to address some of the issues.
He said that NEPAD would partner with the private sector and development partners in combating deforestation and desertification, adding that today's event was one of activities geared toward finding solutions to environmental problems in the country.
In a message of goodwill Dr Bola Adubi, Senor Agricultural Specialist of the World Bank, who represented the Country Director, Onno Ruhl, said that the Bank was committed to supporting Nigeria in safeguarding its environment.
``We will continue to provide a range of support such as Global Environmental Facility, Carbon Finance, Climate Investment Funds Private sector participation and analytical work to promote environmental sustainability,'' he said.
