The Nigerian Conservation Foundation, NCF has implemented livelihood support activities of over 1000 Nigerians who live within the communities where 276, 860 tree seedlings were planted in 2023.

The support programme, through its Green Recovery Nigeria, GRN, Programme, is aimed at boosting the economic value of the affected Nigerians.

According to a statement made available to HorizonTimes and signed by the Foundation’s head of communication, Oladapo Soneye, the overall goal of the GRN Programme is to contribute and facilitate a reforestation scheme in 25% of Nigeria’s total landmass, while promoting actions to curb further deforestation and forest degradation

GRN, according to the statement, is a 30-year Programme that runs from 2017 to 2047.

Some other activities of the initiative include fuel-efficient cook stove training, provision of clean water, employment as eco-guards, tree nursery raising, enterprise development around non-timber forest products and many others.

“The livelihood support component of the GRN Programme is to reduce total dependence of communities on the forest; to reduce deforestation caused by fuelwood extraction, encourage conservation of wildlife, and prevent hideouts of criminals in the forest reserves.”

Some of the beneficiary communities in the livelihood component include Iko Esai and Becheve in Cross River; Ajingi in Kano; Guzape in Abuja; Awka Etti in Anambra, among others.

The tree planting exercise, the foundation said, was carried out across the six geo-political zones of the nation with economic trees planted including avocado, mango, cashew, orange; and timber trees like Gmelina and teak etc

According to it, the trees were planted in forest reserves, National Parks, community forests, secondary schools, and tertiary institutions among others.

“The livelihood support and tree planting projects were made possible through the support of the German Government through the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union, Germany (NABU), Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Access Corporation, AFR100, Pernod Ricard Nigeria, International Labour Organisation (ILO), First Bank Nigeria Ltd, British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation, ATC Nigeria Wireless Infrastructure Ltd, and many others.

The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) is the foremost environmental NGO dedicated to nature conservation and biodiversity resource management.

It has remained resolute in ensuring people live in harmony with nature.