UN-REDD awards $4 million to Nigeria to reduce emission

UN-REDD awards $4 million to Nigeria to reduce emission

The United Nations Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (UN-REDD) has awarded 4 million dollars to Nigeria to combat emissions from forest degradation.

The Chairman, Forestry Commission, Cross River State in southern Nigeria, Mr Odiga Odiga, disclosed this in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital on Wednesday at a two day national stakeholders’ workshop on strategy and plans on climate change.

The theme of the workshop is “Preparatory Workshops toward Durban United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC). '' 

Rate of deforestation

Odiga lamented that Nigeria has one of the highest rates of deforestation in Africa and in the world, saying that it required special intervention measures to contain the situation.

He said: “Deforestation rate in Nigeria is at 3.7 per cent, one of the highest in Africa and in the world, we need to react promptly.’’

He however said that the state had taken appropriate steps to save its existing forests and would welcome further assistance from the UN programme.

Odiga added that the efforts had ensured that Cross River State conserves 50 percent of its remaining tropical forest.

NAN/Adekusibe/Ekata