Nigeria is leading efforts to strengthen African cooperation on biodiversity protection, ecosystem restoration and sustainable conservation financing through regional coalitions.
The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, stated this after a high-level consultation on the Guinean Forest Biome at the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Yerevan, Armenia, on Tuesday.
The meeting, held under the theme “Taking Action for Nature,” brought together ministerial representatives and delegates from Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, Benin and Togo to advance regional environmental cooperation.
Lawal said the coalition would help participating countries address shared ecological challenges, mobilise resources and improve access to funding for conservation initiatives.
He said the consultation also provided a platform to strengthen cross-border partnerships, share experiences and coordinate efforts to protect forests and wildlife, restore ecosystems and promote community-led conservation.
“We need to move from conservation commitments to measurable action, supported by long-term financing, effective monitoring, strong governance and meaningful community participation,” he said.
Lawal added that Nigeria’s leadership offered opportunities to strengthen national conservation programmes, including those implemented by the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW).
He stressed that effective biodiversity protection required sustained investment, inclusive partnerships and stronger implementation beyond the designation of conservation areas.
Also speaking, NAGGW Director-General Saleh Abubakar reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to global biodiversity conservation and sustainable financing.
Abubakar said discussions focused on mobilising public and philanthropic funding, strengthening international partnerships, promoting community-led conservation and improving the sustainable management of protected areas.
