Nigeria has suffered a staggering 90% depletion of its woodland areas over the past three decades, according to alarming reports from the Nigerian Conservation Foundation.

The Nigerian Conservation Foundation is sounding the alarm on the need for immediate action to stem the tide of deforestation, highlighting that a staggering 90 per cent of Nigeria's forest cover has vanished over the past three decades.

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This urgent call to action was made in a statement released by the foundation's Director of Communications, Policy and Advocacy, Mr Kunle Olawoyin, on Saturday in Lagos, coinciding with the International Day of Forests, which is observed annually on March 21.

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According to Olawoyin, the 2026 theme, "Forests and Economies," serves as a poignant reminder of the vital role forests play in supporting environmental sustainability, livelihoods, and national development.

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Nigeria is currently grappling with one of the highest deforestation rates globally, with factors such as illegal logging, agricultural expansion, and urbanisation driving this alarming trend.

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Over the past three decades, the country has witnessed a devastating loss of nearly 90 per cent of its forest cover, leaving a mere 10 per cent of the original forest landscape intact, Olawoyin noted.

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The widespread reliance on fuelwood and charcoal for energy by a significant portion of the population continues to exert immense pressure on the remaining forest reserves, he added.

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Forests are essential for supporting agriculture, regulating the water system, and providing livelihoods for millions of Nigerians, particularly in rural communities, Olawoyin stressed.

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However, he lamented that the sector remains undervalued in national development planning, with major drivers of forest loss including illegal logging, weak enforcement of environmental laws, increasing demand for land and energy, and inadequate investment in restoration.

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Olawoyin warned that failure to implement urgent and coordinated interventions could have severe environmental and economic consequences.

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Dr Joseph Onoja, the Director-General of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, emphasized the crucial importance of forests to human survival and climate stability, quoting him as saying, "We all know that forests are vital for life on Earth, so the question remains: Why are we destroying the very systems that sustain us?"

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Onoja called for an end to the indiscriminate exploitation of forest resources, urging stakeholders to protect the "lungs of the planet".

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The Nigerian Conservation Foundation has been actively working to reverse forest loss through initiatives such as the Green Recovery Nigeria Programme, which aims to restore the country's forest cover to 25 per cent by 2047, Olawoyin disclosed.

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In 2025, the organisation planted 265,561 trees across various ecosystems in collaboration with partners, while also implementing community-based forest management programmes, biodiversity conservation projects, and partnerships with government and the private sector to promote sustainable land use and alternative livelihoods.

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Olawoyin urged governments at all levels to strengthen forest governance, enforce environmental regulation, and increase funding for conservation and restoration efforts, while also encouraging the private sector to invest in sustainable practices and nature-based solutions.

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He also called on individuals and communities to support tree planting and adopt sustainable resource-use practices, reaffirming the foundation's commitment to working with stakeholders to ensure forests continue to deliver ecological and economic benefits for present and future generations.