A coalition of civil society organisations has launched a Forest and Climate Journalism Fellowship in Nigeria to strengthen media coverage of deforestation, climate change, forest conservation and environmental governance.
The fellowship, organised by Policy Alert, in partnership with We The People, was unveiled on Thursday in Calabar, Cross River State, at the fourth Multi-Stakeholder Conference on Deforestation, an annual forum that brings together government institutions, civil society organisations, forest-dependent communities, researchers, journalists and development partners to discuss solutions to Nigeria’s deforestation crisis.
According to them, the fellowship would help bridge critical gaps in environmental journalism by enabling reporters to produce evidence-based stories that expose threats to forests, examine climate policies and promote accountability among government institutions, businesses and other stakeholders.
The initiative is designed to equip journalists with specialised skills and support to investigate and report on the country’s growing environmental challenges, particularly the rapid loss of forest ecosystems and the impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities.
Nigeria’s forests are under increasing pressure from deforestation, agricultural expansion, illegal logging, mining and other human activities, while climate change continues to intensify threats to livelihoods, food security and biodiversity.
Against this backdrop, the fellowship is expected to provide journalists with opportunities for training, mentorship and practical reporting support, enabling them to develop in-depth stories on forest and climate issues that affect communities across the country.
The programme will also seek to amplify the voices of communities directly affected by environmental degradation and climate-related challenges, while bringing greater attention to the social and economic consequences of the loss of natural ecosystems.
The organisers noted that a stronger and more specialised media would be critical to driving public awareness and ensuring that environmental policies and commitments translate into measurable action.
By supporting investigative and solutions-oriented reporting, the fellowship is expected to contribute to a better-informed public discourse on Nigeria’s forests and climate future, while strengthening scrutiny of efforts to protect the country’s natural resources.
The initiative is coming at a time when environmental experts and civil society organisations are increasingly calling for stronger forest protection measures, improved climate governance and greater investment in sustainable solutions to environmental degradation.
The fellowship is therefore expected to position journalists as key actors in the fight against deforestation and climate change by giving them the tools to investigate environmental issues, hold duty bearers accountable and highlight practical solutions capable of improving the resilience of communities and ecosystems.
