Stakeholders have called for increased community participation in biodiversity restoration, warning that Nigeria’s forests are under growing pressure from climate change, urban expansion and insecurity.
The call was made at the International Day of Forests celebration held in Ibadan, where academics, government officials and environmental experts highlighted the declining state of forest resources in the country.
Available data show that Nigeria has about 1,160 forest reserves covering roughly 10 per cent of its land area, but many of these have been significantly degraded. Studies indicate that the country lost approximately 47.5 per cent of its forest cover between 1990 and 2010, falling below the 25 per cent threshold often recommended for ecological stability.
In Oyo State, stakeholders said nine gazetted forest reserves cover about 342,461 hectares, representing 12.92 per cent of the state’s land area. However, assessments show that forest cover in key reserves, including Opara and Igangan, declined by between 42.26 per cent and 91.21 per cent between 1990 and 2020 due to agricultural expansion, settlement growth and illegal logging.
The Geo-Information Society of Nigeria said it is implementing a new conservation model known as “Geomentorship for Biodiversity Restoration and Monitoring” to address the challenge.
Chairman of GEOSON in Oyo, David Afolayan, said the initiative aims to plant five million trees within three to four years, using geospatial technology to track planting locations and monitor growth.
He said the programme would begin in schools as part of efforts to promote environmental awareness and encourage early adoption of conservation practices.
Also speaking, Rotimi Obateru, a lecturer in the Department of Geography at the University of Ibadan, said effective conservation requires accurate data on natural resources and broader environmental education.
He said human activities such as deforestation, poor land-use practices and waste mismanagement continue to degrade ecosystems, adding that addressing these challenges requires behavioural change at the community level.
Oyo State Commissioner for Environment, Ademola Aderinto, said the scale of environmental degradation underscores the need for stronger enforcement and wider public participation in conservation efforts.
Stakeholders at the event emphasised that restoring biodiversity will require coordinated action beyond government agencies, including engagement with schools, communities and local institutions to ensure long-term sustainability.
