By Onyeka Ezike
Rewild Africa has called for a strategic and inclusive conservation model to address Nigeria’s growing deforestation crisis, protect wildlife and forests, and create sustainable economic opportunities for local communities.
The organisation urged the Federal Government to address structural weaknesses in the country’s conservation system, strengthen environmental policies and explore investment opportunities within the biosphere ecosystem to promote sustainable livelihoods.
Nigeria’s forests and wildlife habitats, stretching from Cross River State to Taraba, Kogi, Bayelsa, Nasarawa, Bauchi, Borno and Zamfara states, continue to face mounting pressure from deforestation, illegal logging, agricultural expansion and urbanisation. The situation threatens biodiversity, undermines community livelihoods and contributes to climate change.
The concerns were raised during an appearance on Villa Square, a segment of Cre8tive 9Ja, a weekly tourism and culture magazine programme hosted by veteran tourism journalist Frank Meke and Bunmi Bade-Adeniji on Mainland 98.3 FM, Lagos.
Speaking on the programme, James Arnott, co-founder of Rewild Africa, and Clement Umina of Rewilding Nigeria highlighted the challenges facing Nigeria’s forests and wildlife communities, calling for stronger government intervention and a conservation framework that places local communities at the centre of environmental protection.
Umina described the scale of deforestation in Nigeria as alarming, noting that the country’s remaining forest cover requires urgent attention.
He cited Cross River State as an example of the untapped potential of Nigeria’s forest resources, warning that failure to protect and sustainably manage the state’s forests could further undermine the country’s rainforest ecosystem.
“The forest of Cross River State will surprise you because the state government is yet to tap into the potential of the forests in the state,” Umina said, warning that urgent action was needed to prevent further environmental degradation.
He also expressed concern about the broader state of conservation in Nigeria, describing it as a deeply troubling situation. While Rewilding Nigeria has identified potential interventions, he said accountability gaps, limited public awareness and inadequate oversight could undermine their effectiveness.
Available estimates indicate that Nigeria’s natural forests have been severely depleted, with primary forests accounting for only a small proportion of the country’s land area. Deforestation, driven by human activities, continues to threaten wildlife populations, ecosystem stability and the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities.
The country’s conservation network includes national parks such as Cross River, Gashaka-Gumti, Kainji Lake and Okomu, alongside numerous forest reserves and wildlife sanctuaries. However, habitat loss and poaching continue to place significant pressure on the country’s biodiversity.
Wildlife populations have also suffered substantial declines. African elephants face persistent threats from habitat destruction and poaching, while Nigeria’s remaining wild lion population is critically small, underscoring the need for stronger protection measures.
Rewild Africa is promoting rewilding as an approach to restoring degraded ecosystems and allowing natural processes to support the recovery of wildlife and habitats.
Unlike conventional conservation models that often focus on managing particular species within designated boundaries, rewilding seeks to restore ecological relationships and create resilient, self-sustaining ecosystems. Depending on local conditions, this may involve reintroducing keystone species, removing barriers to wildlife movement and allowing natural processes to regenerate habitats.
Arnott said the African rewilding model was developed to strengthen conservation across the continent through collaboration, shared learning and partnerships.
He explained that the approach draws on experiences from countries such as Kenya, Namibia and South Africa, with the aim of developing a model that can be adapted to Nigeria’s environmental and socioeconomic realities.
According to him, limited environmental awareness and a lack of alternative economic opportunities have contributed to deforestation in some Nigerian communities, where cutting down trees may be viewed as one of the few available means of earning a living.
Arnott said Rewild Africa wants to change that dynamic by enabling communities to earn sustainable incomes from protecting forests and wildlife rather than degrading them.
“With our model, community members will become conservationists and have the exclusive right to earn a decent income from watching and protecting the wildlife and forest,” he said.
The proposed approach seeks to position local residents not merely as beneficiaries of conservation projects but as active participants in protecting natural resources and generating economic value from them.
Umina identified inadequate government policies as a major obstacle to effective conservation in Nigeria, arguing that the absence of a coherent strategy continues to expose forests and wildlife to exploitation.
“When we lack a strategic government policy that can impact and reposition the Nigerian conservation ecosystem for economic prosperity, the forest and wildlife will continue to suffer in silence,” he said.
He called for greater public participation in environmental protection, particularly among communities that serve as custodians of forest resources.
Umina also raised concerns about extractive activities, including mining, arguing that resource exploitation must be balanced with environmental protection and the welfare of host communities.
His comments underscored the need for stronger regulatory oversight, improved accountability and policies that ensure economic activities do not come at the expense of biodiversity and community livelihoods.
Arnott also called for a review of the funding architecture for conservation, arguing that existing approaches should place greater emphasis on long-term environmental outcomes rather than short-term project objectives.
He advocated stronger private-sector participation and more sustainable financing arrangements to support conservation initiatives over time.
According to him, effective conservation requires a funding model that integrates government action, private investment, community participation and long-term planning.
The call comes amid growing recognition that conservation efforts cannot succeed through environmental protection measures alone. Sustainable results also depend on creating economic incentives for communities, strengthening institutions and ensuring that those who protect natural resources benefit from doing so.
Rewild Africa’s proposed model seeks to bring these priorities together by linking ecosystem restoration with community livelihoods and economic opportunity.
The organisation’s advocacy highlights the need for Nigeria to move beyond fragmented conservation interventions towards a coordinated strategy that protects forests and wildlife while enabling local communities to participate meaningfully in, and benefit from, the sustainable management of the country’s natural heritage.
