NBS must be formally integrated into Nigeria’s national policies, including the National Climate Change Action Plan, to ensure they receive the political and budgetary priority they deserve

 

Nigeria stands at a crossroads in its battle against climate change. As Africa’s most populous nation and largest economy, it faces escalating environmental crises—rampant deforestation, expanding desertification, devastating floods, and rising temperatures. Yet, within these challenges lies an opportunity: nature itself.

Nature-based solutions (NBS) offer Nigeria a way to combat climate change while restoring ecosystems, protecting biodiversity, and supporting livelihoods. Unlike costly technological fixes, NBS work with the environment, not against it. From the dense mangroves of the Niger Delta to the sprawling savannas of the north, Nigeria’s landscapes hold immense potential for carbon storage, flood prevention, and sustainable development. But how much is Nigeria truly leveraging these natural solutions? And can they make a real dent in the country’s emissions?

This report explores Nigeria’s journey with NBS, examining successes, setbacks, and the road ahead.

The Power of Nature in Nigeria’s Climate Fight

Nigeria’s diverse ecosystems—lush rainforests, vast wetlands, expansive mangroves, and arid Sahelian landscapes—are more than just scenic backdrops. They are active players in the fight against climate change. Forests absorb carbon dioxide, mangroves shield coastlines from storms, and wetlands regulate water flow, preventing droughts and floods.

Yet, these natural defenses are under siege. Nigeria ranks among the countries with the fastest rates of deforestation globally, losing over 350,000 hectares of forest every year—an area nearly the size of Lagos State. The causes are familiar: illegal logging, slash-and-burn farming, and unchecked urban sprawl. Nigeria risks losing trees and a critical ally in its climate strategy if this destruction continues.

The good news? Efforts are underway to reverse the damage. Across Nigeria, from government-driven reforestation initiatives to grassroots mangrove restoration efforts, people increasingly realize that safeguarding nature is not merely an environmental concern—it is vital for economic stability and human survival.

Nigeria’s Forest Restoration Efforts

One of Nigeria’s most ambitious NBS initiatives is its participation in the Great Green Wall (GGW), a pan-African project aimed at halting desertification in the Sahel. The vision is bold: an 8,000-kilometer belt of trees and restored land stretching across Africa. The GGW targets 4 million hectares of degraded land in Nigeria by 2030, combining tree planting with sustainable farming techniques.

But progress has been uneven. While some northern states, like Kano and Sokoto, have seen successful tree-planting campaigns, funding gaps, land disputes, and poor maintenance threaten long-term success. In many areas, newly planted saplings wither due to a lack of care, highlighting the need for stronger community involvement.

Beyond government programs, local NGOs and international partners are stepping in. The Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF) has been instrumental in restoring degraded forests, particularly in the southwest. Meanwhile, organizations like Eden Reforestation Projects work directly with villagers, paying them to plant and protect trees—a model that combines ecological restoration with poverty alleviation.

Reforestation alone is not enough. Nigeria must also tackle the root causes of deforestation, such as reliance on charcoal and firewood for cooking. Transitioning to cleaner energy sources, like solar-powered stoves, could reduce pressure on forests while improving public health.

Saving Nigeria’s Mangrove Forests

Along Nigeria’s southern coast lies one of Africa’s most vital—and most threatened—ecosystems: the Niger Delta mangroves. These tangled forests of salt-tolerant trees are among the world’s most efficient carbon sinks, storing up to four times more CO₂ per hectare than tropical rainforests. They also serve as natural defenses against coastal erosion and storm surges, safeguarding vulnerable communities. But decades of oil spills, illegal logging, and urban encroachment have devastated these mangroves. In places like Rivers and Bayelsa states, vast stretches of once-thriving mangroves have been reduced to barren wastelands.

Restoration efforts are gaining momentum. The NDDC (Niger Delta Development Commission) has launched mangrove replanting projects, while international groups like Wetlands International collaborate with local fishermen to revive degraded areas. In Akwa Ibom, communities are discovering that protecting mangroves doesn’t just fight climate change—it also boosts fish stocks, a lifeline for coastal economies. Still, the scale of damage demands more action. Strengthening enforcement against illegal logging, holding oil companies accountable for spills, and expanding community-led conservation could turn the tide for Nigeria’s mangroves.

Farming with Nature

Agriculture drives 80% of Nigeria’s deforestation, as farmers clear forests for cropland. But what if farming could work with nature instead of against it?

Enter agroforestry—a practice that integrates trees with crops and livestock. In states like Ondo and Cross River, cocoa farmers are planting shade trees alongside their crops, improving soil fertility while sequestering carbon. Similarly, farmers are adopting Faidherbia albida in the north, a nitrogen-fixing tree that boosts maize yields without chemical fertilizers.

Another promising approach is conservation agriculture, which minimizes soil disturbance, uses cover crops, and rotates plantings to maintain soil health. These methods help cut emissions while enhancing farms’ resilience to droughts and floods—a critical advantage in a warming world.

Nigeria’s REDD+ program (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) is another key player. REDD+ aims to cut emissions by 50 million tons by 2030 by offering financial incentives for forest conservation. However, success hinges on transparency and ensuring that funds reach local communities rather than being lost to bureaucracy.

Nigeria’s Wetlands and Peatlands as Vital Carbon Stores

Beyond forests and mangroves, Nigeria’s wetlands and peatlands are silent giants in carbon storage. For instance, the Hadejia-Nguru Wetlands in the northeast absorb massive amounts of CO₂ while supporting millions of farmers, herders, and fishermen. Yet, these ecosystems are drying up due to dam construction and unsustainable irrigation. When wetlands disappear, they release stored carbon, accelerating climate change.

Protecting these areas requires smarter water management and stronger legal safeguards. Nigeria’s 11 Ramsar sites (internationally recognized wetlands) are a start, but many critical wetlands remain unprotected.

Green Spaces in Nigerian Cities

As Nigeria’s cities explode—Lagos alone adds over 600,000 people yearly—urban green spaces are shrinking. Concrete replaces trees, and heat waves intensify.

Some cities are fighting back. LASPARK (Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency) has planted thousands of trees along highways and neighborhoods, reducing urban heat. Meanwhile, Abuja’s Millennium Park offers a green lung in the capital, while newer concepts like green roofs and vertical gardens are slowly gaining traction.

But urban NBS face hurdles: land scarcity, pollution, and weak enforcement of green building codes. Nigeria must prioritize green infrastructure in urban planning to make cities livable in a hotter future.

The Data Gap in Nigeria’s NBS Efforts

One major challenge in assessing Nigeria’s NBS impact is unreliable data. Satellite monitoring of forests is improving, but gaps remain in tracking mangrove loss, wetland degradation, and carbon sequestration rates.

Policymakers cannot gauge which programs work or where to invest without accurate data. Strengthening Nigeria’s National Forest Monitoring System and partnering with global carbon-tracking initiatives could fill these gaps.

Can Nature Alone Save Nigeria?

While nature-based solutions offer Nigeria a vital pathway for carbon sequestration and climate adaptation, they cannot single-handedly achieve its ambitious 2060 net-zero target. Renewable energy expansion—particularly in solar, hydro, and wind—is critical to reducing Nigeria’s heavy reliance on fossil fuels, which currently dominate energy production and export revenues. Meanwhile, hard-to-decarbonize industries like cement and steel will require industrial carbon capture technologies to mitigate their substantial emissions. Policy reforms are equally urgent, particularly in curbing rampant gas flaring in the Niger Delta and enforcing long-ignored environmental regulations. Nature-based solutions are Nigeria’s most cost-effective and immediately deployable climate tool, but they must work in concert with these other approaches to create a comprehensive, sustainable climate strategy.

Key Priorities for Nigeria’s Nature-Based Solutions

For nature-based solutions to reach their full potential in Nigeria, the country must first address fundamental structural challenges. Land tenure reform is essential—many conservation efforts fail because local communities lack secure rights to the lands they steward, leaving ecosystems vulnerable to exploitation by external actors. Climate financing also needs scaling up through mechanisms like carbon credit markets and green bonds, which could unlock billions in funding for reforestation, mangrove restoration, and sustainable agriculture. NBS must be formally integrated into Nigeria’s national policies, including the National Climate Change Action Plan, to ensure they receive the political and budgetary priority they deserve. Public awareness campaigns are equally crucial to shift perceptions; many Nigerians still view conservation as an obstacle to development rather than recognizing its economic benefits in job creation, food security, and disaster prevention.

The success of Nigeria’s nature-based solutions ultimately hinges on its ability to align environmental goals with human needs. Community-led conservation models have shown particular promise, demonstrating that projects achieve far greater longevity and impact when local populations are directly involved in—and benefit from—ecosystem restoration. International partnerships will remain vital, providing funding and technical expertise in monitoring carbon sequestration and adapting best practices to Nigeria’s unique ecological and socioeconomic context. At the same time, the government must strengthen institutions responsible for environmental protection, ensuring they have the authority and resources to combat illegal logging, mangrove destruction, and other forms of ecological degradation.

Looking forward, Nigeria stands at a pivotal moment where strategic investments in nature-based solutions could yield outsized returns for climate mitigation and sustainable development. By treating forests, wetlands, and agricultural lands as vital infrastructure rather than expendable resources, Nigeria can build a more resilient economy while positioning itself as a leader in African climate action. The window for action is narrowing, but the transformation tools, rooted in nature and technology, are within reach if Nigeria can mobilize the necessary political will, financial resources, and community engagement to deploy them effectively. The choice is clear: embrace an integrated approach now, or face far costlier consequences later.

This Post was submitted by Climate Scorecard Nigeria Country Manager, Michael Johnson.