Nigeria

Nigeria’s high expectations at accessing funds to effectively kickstart its National Programme for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) were somewhat dashed last week in far away Da Lat, Viet Nam, where a gathering of experts took stock of the climate change mitigation strategy.

But an innovative interim funding grant to the nation along with hopes for a better tomorrow seems to serve as a welcome consolation to the beleaguered delegates.

Taraba State of Nigeria is aiming to becoming the second REDD Pilot State in the country after Cross River, which is on the verge of accessing funds set aside under the climate change mitigation programme.

Abuja – Stakeholders on climate change mitigation converged in Abuja on Monday to prepare a draft Reduction of Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) Readiness Programme (REDD+).

The British government will support Nigeria’s effort to manage her environment through reduction of carbon emission, Henry Bellingham, British minister for Africa and the United Nations, said yesterday in Abuja.

There is concern that over 90 per cent of Nigeria’s forests have already gone, and more than half of what remains is found in Cross River State. The forest there is considered to be one of the richest biodiversity reserves in Africa.