The Nigerian Environment Minister, Amina Mohammed, on the 4^th of June, 2016 conveyed an afforestation stakeholders meeting to discuss the decline in Nigeria?s forest. The country has been repeatedly named as one with the highest deforestation rate globally with about 4 percent forest cover which is 21 percent short of the international standard as established by the Food and Agricultural organization.

The Minister described the situation as an emergency one saying that her ministry will pursue afforestation with the aim of planting economic trees with everyone involved to ensure the sustainability of the project even beyond the present government.

The Minister who stated that the 3.5 percent annual deforestation rate by Nigeria was unacceptable insisted that the country will hardly achieve her afforestation goal if everyone is not involved. Logging of woods for timber exports, use of fire woods in cooking and use of woods for construction are some of the factors responsible for Nigeria?s continued forest decline.

We need to collectively tackle this challenge if we must find a solution. People must begin to think about the consequences of their actions as responsible citizens.  The meeting alone is a great sign of what is to come and hope Nigerians embrace the good initiatives of the new Environment Minister.

 Source: Thisdaylive.com

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