- Critical wildlife like the Cross River gorilla faces extinction from habitat loss caused by continuous forest clearing.
- Forest destruction releases stored carbon into the atmosphere, intensifying greenhouse gas levels and contributing to global climate change.
Deforestation remains one of the most pressing environmental challenges facing Nigeria today.
With one of the highest rates of forest loss in the world, the country is experiencing rapid degradation of its natural ecosystems.
This phenomenon is significantly contributing to a broader environmental crisis that spans biodiversity loss, desertification, climate change, and socio-economic instability.
EXTENT AND DRIVERS OF DEFORESTATION
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Nigeria loses approximately 350,000 to 400,000 hectares of forest annually.
The country’s forest cover has declined drastically from 16% in 2000 to less than 10% in 2024.
The primary drivers of this trend include agricultural expansion, logging (both legal and illegal), fuelwood collection, urbanization, and infrastructure development.
Subsistence agriculture remains the leading cause of deforestation. With over 70% of Nigerians relying on agriculture for their livelihoods, forest land is frequently cleared for crop cultivation and livestock grazing.
Similarly, the demand for fuelwood, especially in rural communities where access to alternative energy is limited, leads to overharvesting of trees.
Illegal logging and weak enforcement of forestry regulations also contribute significantly to forest depletion.
Despite the existence of policies such as the National Forest Policy (2006, revised 2020), enforcement mechanisms are often inadequate, allowing unsustainable practices to persist.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES
The loss of forest cover in Nigeria has resulted in multiple environmental impacts. One of the most significant is the acceleration of desertification, particularly in the northern regions.
The Sahara Desert is encroaching southward at an estimated rate of 0.6 km per year, displacing communities and reducing the availability of arable land.
Deforestation also exacerbates soil erosion, especially in the southeastern and central parts of the country where rainfall is heavy.
Without trees to anchor the soil, topsoil is washed away, reducing agricultural productivity and increasing sedimentation in rivers and dams.
Biodiversity loss is another major consequence. Nigeria’s forests are home to a rich variety of flora and fauna, including endangered species like the Cross River gorilla and the Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee.
Habitat destruction leads to the decline and possible extinction of these species, reducing ecological resilience and genetic diversity.
CLIMATE IMPACT
Forest loss significantly contributes to climate change. Trees act as carbon sinks, absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
When forests are cleared, this stored carbon is released, adding to greenhouse gas emissions.
Nigeria, while contributing minimally to global emissions, is highly vulnerable to climate change impacts, including rising temperatures, irregular rainfall, and extreme weather events such as flooding and droughts.
Deforestation also disrupts local weather patterns. Forests play a critical role in maintaining humidity and precipitation cycles.
Their removal leads to microclimatic changes, such as reduced rainfall and increased temperatures, which further stress water resources and agricultural systems.
SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS
The environmental consequences of deforestation have direct implications for Nigeria’s socio-economic development.
Reduced agricultural yields due to soil degradation and climate variability threaten food security.
Rural communities that depend on forests for fuel, medicine, and building materials face increased hardship as resources dwindle.
Furthermore, deforestation contributes to conflict, particularly in areas where land becomes scarce due to desertification or overuse.
Clashes between farmers and herders have escalated in various parts of the country, often fueled by competition for increasingly limited natural resources.
POLICY AND MITIGATION EFFORTS
The Nigerian government, in partnership with international organizations, has initiated several measures to address deforestation.
Programs such as the Great Green Wall initiative aim to restore degraded lands and combat desertification in the north by planting trees and promoting sustainable land management.
Reforestation and afforestation campaigns have also been launched, although their scale and impact remain limited.
The National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) has reported progress, but challenges related to funding, land tenure, and community engagement hinder widespread success.
Moreover, efforts to promote alternative livelihoods and clean energy sources, such as improved cookstoves and solar energy, are being explored to reduce dependency on fuelwood.
However, these interventions require sustained investment, institutional coordination, and public awareness to be effective.
WHAT NEXT?
Deforestation in Nigeria is not merely an issue of tree loss; it is a multi-dimensional environmental crisis with far-reaching implications.
Addressing it requires a balanced combination of policy enforcement, community involvement, economic alternatives, and long-term environmental planning.
Without decisive action, the continued destruction of forest ecosystems will further undermine Nigeria’s ecological stability and development prospects.
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