Event Information
The alarming rate of loss of forest resources globally and its consequences for the climate led to the introduction of REDD+[1]. Between 2010 and 2015, 3.3 million hectares of forest per year were cleared (FAO, 2015)[2]. From 2001 to 2023, Nigeria’s humid primary forest decreased by 9.4%, which amounts to a loss of 181Kha of its humid primary forest. In the same period, the country lost 1.33 Mha of tree cover, equivalent to a tree cover decrease of 13% since 2000, and 724 Mt of CO₂e emissions (Global Forest Watch, GFW 2024)[3]. Notwithstanding that REDD+ projects, besides reducing carbon emissions, must impact local livelihoods to be adjudged to be successful, evidence regarding welfare impact has been mixed. To understand the impact of REDD+ intervention on households’ welfare and determine households’ willingness to participate in future REDD+ projects, the type of REDD+ project interventions they would be willing to participate in, and equally, estimate their willingness to contribute labour days to REDD+ interventions, the Resource and Environmental Policy Research Centre (REPRC), Environment for Development Nigeria (EfD Ngeria) carried out a study to estimate household participation in REDD+, as well as the welfare impacts of REDD+ pilot projects among households in Nigeria. The project was supported by the Swedish International Development Agency through the Environment for Development (EfD) Initiative, University of Gothenburg, Sweden. Before the inception of the study in March 2021, REPRC EfD Nigeria UNN sought and obtained the support and collaboration of the Federal Ministry of Environment through the approval of the Honourable Minister of Environment.
The study's objectives were to determine the willingness of people to participate in future REDD+ projects, identify factors influencing participation, and estimate the impact of REDD+ on household income and food security for different gender groups. It's crucial to note that REDD+ is a strategic program that aligns with Nigeria’s commitment to low-carbon development through the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). Furthermore, REDD+ is a key mitigation and adaptation action under Nigeria’s Climate Change Policy and Response Strategy. Therefore, the findings of this study will play a significant role in shaping the policy direction of REDD+ implementation in Nigeria, especially as the country enters the second phase of REDD+ implementation.
Objective of the Workshop
The workshop aims to disseminate the study's findings, engage the sector's stakeholders, and thus guide the study's finalization and development of policy initiatives that would guide the future implementation actions of REDD+ in Nigeria.