The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, has called on charcoal merchants and other stakeholders in Nigeria’s forestry sector to adopt sustainable practices and support government efforts to curb deforestation and restore degraded forests.

Lawal made the call on Wednesday during the flag-off of the 2026 Operation One Million Trees Tree Planting Programme, organised by the Association for Forest Conservation and Green Industrial Charcoal Merchants at the Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, University of Ibadan, Ibadan.

Represented at the event by Dr Osakwe Igbinosa, the minister described tree planting as a practical response to climate change, deforestation, biodiversity loss and desertification, while also strengthening the resilience of Nigeria’s ecosystems.

Lawal said, “Nigeria’s forests provide critical environmental, social and economic benefits, including biodiversity conservation, regulation of water resources and livelihoods for millions of Nigerians. Their protection must therefore remain a collective responsibility.

“The Federal Ministry of Environment remains committed to sustainable forest management through programmes designed to restore degraded forests, increase forest cover and promote climate resilience across the country.

“Let me use this period to advise charcoal merchants and other stakeholders in the forestry sector to embrace sustainable practices and support the Federal Government’s efforts to reverse deforestation and restore Nigeria’s degraded forest landscapes.”

The minister noted that the Federal Ministry of Environment had on June 8, 2026, flagged off the 2026 National Afforestation Programme as part of the implementation of the Federal Government’s Executive Order on the ban on the export of wood and charcoal.

“The national programme underscores the government’s commitment to restoring degraded forests, increasing Nigeria’s forest cover and ensuring sustainable management of forest resources.”

He also listed other initiatives being pursued by the ministry, including the Sovereign Green Bond Afforestation Programme, National Greening of Cities and Urban Areas for Climate Change Mitigation, agroforestry initiatives, protection of erosion-prone areas and marginal lands, as well as stakeholder and community engagement programmes.

“Operation One Million Trees initiative complemented the government’s broader environmental agenda. I want to encourage the stakeholders to ensure that forestry activities are carried out in line with existing laws, environmental regulations and government policies.”

Lawal further stressed that the effectiveness of afforestation efforts should not be judged solely by the number of seedlings planted, but by their survival and eventual development into healthy forests.

“Tree planting is not just about putting seedlings into the soil. The real measure of success is their survival and growth into healthy forests.”

The Chairman of the Association for Forest Conservation and Green Industrial Charcoal Merchants, Mr Adeshola Idowu, also urged stakeholders to cultivate the practice of replacing trees removed from the environment and encouraged Nigerians to plant trees around their homes and communities.

Idowu advocated planting several trees for every tree cut down, noting that trees remain essential to human existence because numerous products used by society are derived from them.

He also identified technology as an important component of contemporary forest protection, highlighting the potential for drones to plant seedlings in difficult-to-reach locations.

“The use of technology can significantly accelerate afforestation efforts because drones could reach areas that might be difficult or dangerous for human beings to access.”

The Oyo State Commissioner for Environment, Mr Ademola Aderinto, commended Governor Seyi Makinde and praised the governor’s environmental policies, particularly those promoting afforestation as a means of combating climate change.

Aderinto said tree cutting was discouraged in the state and that offenders were penalised.

The Chief Strategy Officer of FOJ Multidynamic Interchange Nigeria Limited, Florence Omolola, said the programme formed part of a wider effort to ensure that charcoal businesses operate sustainably and comply with environmental regulations.

According to Omolola, the ceremonial flag-off marked the start of an initiative intended to encourage charcoal merchants to contribute to efforts against deforestation and environmental degradation.

She added that the next phase would involve on-site verification of afforestation activities, with environmentalists, journalists, regulators, non-governmental organisations, international organisations, auditors and other independent stakeholders expected to take part.

Omolola explained that the verification exercise would provide physical evidence of the trees planted while improving transparency around the programme.

She also called for sustained government backing for sustainable forestry initiatives, saying collective action was needed to achieve meaningful environmental restoration.

“Operation One Million Trees is just the beginning,” she said, expressing optimism that the initiative would expand beyond its current target in subsequent years.

The programme brought together forestry practitioners, charcoal merchants, environmentalists, students, regulators and other stakeholders, with the aim of promoting afforestation and encouraging responsible management of Nigeria’s forest resources.

Source: Punch