The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to commence the review of its policies on forest reserves.
Speaking at an event to mark the 2016 International Day of Forests, the Minister of Environment, Mrs Amina Mohammed said that the nation was yet to tap into the economic benefits of its forest resources, owing to inadequate legislation and enforcement drive.
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According to her, the Federal Government is looking at the possibility of sanctioning those involved in indiscriminate felling of trees.
The Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations estimates that only 20,000 hectares of Nigeria’s primary forests remain. The annual rate of deforestation in the country was 5 percent between 2010 and 2015.
