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The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) has raised the alarm over rapid deforestation in the country, revealing that Nigeria has lost nearly 90% of its forest cover over the past three decades.
The warning was made in a statement issued in Lagos to mark the International Day of Forests celebrated globally on March 21.
According to the foundation’s director of communications, policy and advocacy, Kunle Olawoy, the 2026 theme, “Forests and Economies,” highlights the critical role forests play in sustaining livelihoods, sustaining ecosystems and driving national development.
Olawoyin noted that Nigeria is currently among the countries with the highest deforestation rates in the world, driven largely by illegal logging, agricultural expansion and rapid urbanization.
It revealed that less than 10% of the country’s original forest cover remains intact, raising serious environmental and economic concerns.
The foundation has also identified widespread dependence on firewood and charcoal as a major factor contributing to forest depletion, particularly in rural communities.
Olawoyin stressed that forests are essential for agriculture, water regulation and biodiversity, but remain undervalued in national planning and policy frameworks.
It listed weak enforcement of environmental laws, growing demand for land and energy, and insufficient investment in reforestation as key drivers of forest loss.
The NCF warned that failure to take urgent and coordinated action could result in severe environmental degradation and economic consequences.
Speaking on the issue, NCF Director General, Joseph Onoja, highlighted the importance of forests in sustaining life and combating climate change.
He called on stakeholders to stop unsustainable exploitation and prioritize the protection of forest ecosystems.
The foundation highlighted ongoing efforts to reverse deforestation, including the Green Recovery Nigeria program which aims to increase forest cover to 25% by 2047
As part of its initiatives, the NCF said it has planted over 265,000 trees in 2025 in collaboration with partners from different ecosystems.
Other interventions include community-based forest management, biodiversity conservation projects, and partnerships with government and private sector stakeholders to promote sustainable land use.
The organization urged federal and state governments to strengthen forest governance, enforce environmental regulations and increase conservation funding.
It also called on the private sector to invest in sustainable practices, while encouraging individuals and communities to adopt environmentally responsible behaviour, including tree planting.
The NCF reiterated its commitment to working with stakeholders to ensure that Nigeria’s forests continue to provide ecological and economic benefits for future generations.
