In a country with one of the highest deforestation rates in the world, communities in Nigeria are stepping forward to protect local forests and fight climate change. Nearly 50 community-based forest management committees have been established under the NISCOPS programme enlisting community members to map biodiversity hotspots and raise awareness on the value of forest protection.
In 2024, Nigeria lost over 253,000 hectares of natural forest, which is the equivalent of approximately 114 million metric tonnes of carbon emissions. The impacts of deforestation are not lost on community members in the vicinity of forests.
I grew up knowing different species of wild animals, which I don’t think my children have ever seen, because they have gone extinct due to the destruction of their natural habitat
Abel is the leader of just one of the nearly 50 community-based forest management committees that have been established with Solidaridad’s help to raise awareness and take action to reduce deforestation.
Bodies of water now dry up as soon as the rains stop, which was never the case in the past.
The committees across communities in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Enugu, and Kogi states were established through the National Initiatives for Sustainable and Climate-Smart Oil Palm Smallholders (NISCOPS) programme. The goal is to reverse forest loss through the actions of communities willing to take charge of natural resource governance.
Each of the forest management committees is responsible for mapping high conservation value areas, identifying biodiversity hotspots, documenting traditional forest management practices, and raising awareness on the importance of forest protection. Additionally, the committees will collaborate with traditional institutions and local authorities to enact or strengthen community-based forest laws.
In Abel’s community, the council of chiefs of the Olamaborro Local Government Area, Kogi state, has taken action to discourage community members from contributing to deforestation.
As a community, the council of chiefs has directed that farming, logging, and bush burning be stopped in all forest areas.
To serve as a deterrent, we have also instituted punishments for offenders. For instance, anyone who fells a tree must be prepared to plant three new ones in the community
Building community to deter deforestation
As part of the initiative, committee members have received capacity-building support in sustainable forest management, biodiversity conservation, climate change adaptation, gender inclusion, and Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES). These efforts are designed to equip committee members with the tools and knowledge needed to safeguard their forests, while creating economic benefits from their stewardship.
The committees will map the forest area in their localities to assess its size and health. This data forms the basis of Community Forest Management Plans. These plans will prioritize practical strategies for conservation, sustainable resource management and the monitoring of deforestation-free oil palm agriculture.
These communities are well-positioned to benefit directly from Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) schemes, like receiving financial incentives for preserving biodiversity, enhancing carbon sequestration, and delivering other ecological services.
The NISCOPS programme is a partnership between Solidaridad and IDH, and funded by the government of the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The programme seeks to improve land use through sustainably managed oil palm production and improve income for smallholders that follow sustainable agriculture guidelines. It engages stakeholders across the supply chain, including farmers, governments, the private sector, civil society, and research institutions, to support development that is climate-smart, inclusive and sustainable.
