The U.S. Embassy will on Thursday July 18, 2024 host a USAID-organized conference to facilitate crucial dialogues between policymakers, regulators, researchers, civil society organizations, mangrove experts and international partners on the challenges and opportunities facing Nigeria’s mangroves.
At the event billed for Fraser Suites Hotel, Abuja, the keynote address will be delivered by Dr. Iziaq Kunle Salako, Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Environment.
According to a statement by the U.S. Embassy Abuja: “Despite having the largest mangrove forest in Africa, Nigeria has lost over 60 percent of its mangrove cover since independence and about 35 percent in the last 20 years.
“With a meager less than five percent of Nigeria’s mangroves under protected status, this trend of loss is expected to continue unless drastic action is taken. These ecosystems are vital for biodiversity and serve as a crucial carbon sink, with an estimated capacity to store more than 1,100Mt CO2e, making it an important buffer against climate change.
“Mangroves also play a critical role in local economies and support regional food security. Mangroves serve as a means of protection from the impacts of climate change by providing flood defense and reducing coastal erosion.”
According to the World Bank, the economic benefit of mangroves in Nigeria is estimated at US$4,700 per hectare per year.
The statement noted that participants at the conference will explore the drivers of mangrove degradation, how to expand mangrove protection and restoration initiatives and the need for additional funding for mangrove protection and restoration from public/private sectors.