Developing countries, including Nigeria, are facing huge deforestation, destroying the biodiversity potential of tropical regions and impeding progress in achieving sustainable livelihood.
On 3 November, a delegation from the World Bank Analysis of Drivers of Natural Tree Cover Loss in Nigeria visited IITA–CGIAR, Ibadan, to address these deforestation challenges and seek holistic solutions for a sustainable future.
Giving the opening remarks, IITA Deputy Director General for Corporate Services (DDG-CS) Hilde Koper-Limbourg introduced the delegates to the Institute’s activities, focusing on IITA Forest activities. She highlighted IITA’s ongoing afforestation efforts within and outside the campus, including a successful collaboration with the Nigerian Breweries on the Olokemeji Reforestation project, which is being implemented in Ogun State.
Team Lead Matthew Owen shared a success story on a unique model using population and knowledge of demand energy, which produced insightful results for the World Bank. Encouraged by the success, the model would be replicated in Nigeria to reduce tree cover loss.