Deforestation in Nigeria
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Background
Deforestation in Nigeria is a critical environmental issue that has been ongoing for several decades. Nigeria, which is the most populous country in Africa, is home to diverse ecosystems and has a rich biodiversity, but deforestation has resulted in the loss of significant portions of its forest cover. The drivers of deforestation in Nigeria include logging, agriculture, urbanization, and wood harvesting.
The consequences of deforestation in Nigeria are severe and far-reaching. It contributes to climate change by releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and exacerbates soil erosion, water scarcity, and desertification. Deforestation also affects the livelihoods of communities that rely on forests for sustenance and economic activities such as hunting, gathering, and agriculture. Additionally, deforestation can lead to the extinction of plant and animal species, disrupting the delicate balance of ecosystems.
Efforts to combat deforestation in Nigeria have been ongoing, but progress has been slow due to various factors, including lack of information on deforestation, weak law enforcement, corruption, and lack of political will. The Nigerian government has implemented policies and programs aimed at reducing deforestation, such as the National Forest Policy and the Nigerian Erosion and Watershed Management Project. Non-governmental organizations and international partners have also provided support to combat deforestation through reforestation and afforestation initiatives, sustainable land management practices, and public awareness campaigns.
Deforestation in Nigeria is a complex issue that requires a multi-faceted approach to combat. This is why this Wiki program is being embarked on to make knowledge on deforestation in Nigeria available to the general public from the point of view of Nigerians. Achieving the aims of this project requires people who are knowledgable in the area of the environment, Climate Change and Sustainability. Hence, the partnership with the Institute of Climate Change Studies, Energy and Environment and the Department of Geography, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Causes of Deforestation: Deforestation in Nigeria can be attributed to different factors, inclusive of:
Agricultural Expansion: The want for agricultural land to guide the growing populace has brought about the clearing of huge forested regions for farming, mainly for cash plants like palm oil, cocoa, and rubber.
Logging and Timber Extraction: Unsustainable logging practices, both legal and illegal, have resulted in the depletion of Nigeria's forests. Timber extraction for business purposes, together with fixtures production and construction, has contributed to deforestation as well.
Fuelwood and Charcoal Production: Dependence on conventional gasoline resources like firewood and charcoal for cooking and heating has expanded the demand for wood, main to the immoderate slicing down of bushes.
Key Objectives
- Create and improve Wikipedia articles related to deforestation in Nigeria. Focus on producing high-quality articles on causes, consequences, sustainable land management practices, and initiatives to combat deforestation.
- Raise public awareness on the issue of deforestation through online seminars
- Initiate collaboration between experienced Wikimedians, academics in Nigerian Universities, and local communities in Nigeria
- Involve outreach and public engagement activities such as organizing edit-a-thons, hosting public forums, and creating multimedia content
- Promote the importance of environmental conservation
- Improve access to accurate and reliable information on deforestation in Nigeria
- Promote sustainable development in the country.
Conveners/Facilitators
Plan
For this project, we will be collaborating with renowned institutions, such as the Institute of Climate Change Studies, Energy and Environment, as well as the Department of Geography at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), alongside experienced Wikimedians from Federal Universities in Southeast, Nigeria only. This strategic partnership will enable us to effectively deliver the project and ensure that we achieve our desired outcome.
- Timeline: 24th April - 23rd October, 2023
- In-person event: 22nd - 24th May, 2023
- Online training: Series of online training will follow after the in-person event, dates will be communicated to participants
- Time:09:00am - 04:00pm (WAT)
Impact
The Deforestation in Nigeria project was a six-month initiative that involved over 90 editors, both experienced and new. According to the event dashboard, participants contributed to the creation of 448 pages across English Wikipedia and Wikidata, with a total of 25,000 edits made and 1,182 files uploaded to Wikimedia Commons. On Wikidata alone, editors completed 15,200 revisions and created 431 new items. Meanwhile, on Wikipedia, 4,970 edits were made, resulting in the creation of 25 articles.
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