Land Restoration in Focus: World Bank, FAO, and FGN Team Up in Benue State

The World Bank, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the Federal Government of Nigeria have joined forces with Benue State to fast-track large-scale land restoration under the ACReSAL project. The project aims to restore 1 million hectares of land, with the FAO targeting 350,000 hectares.

The mission’s objective is to equip states with the necessary skills and understanding of land preparation and restoration techniques, seedling selection, post-planting management, agroforestry, water conservation, and community engagement.

Dr. Joy Iganya Agene, Task Team Leader ACReSAL and Senior Environmental Specialist at the World Bank, emphasized the importance of community involvement in land restoration.

“The mission in Benue state will include FAO technical support, review and validation of three strategic catchment management plans, and focus group discussions on how to be more strategic to deliver on the project objectives,” Dr. Agene said. She noted that ACReSAL signed an agreement with FAO to restore 350,000 degraded landscapes towards the 1 million target for the ACReSAL project.

Dr. Agene further explained that the mission is strategically focused on increasing landscape restoration activities, which is why all state project coordinators and Natural Resources officers are in Benue state to learn hands-on knowledge and techniques on land restoration suitable for both the Arid and Semi-Arid regions. “Every state will learn techniques and practicals for land restoration, soil conservation methods and approaches as well as community engagement for effective land restoration,” she added.

The National Project Coordinator for ACReSAL, Abdulhamid Umar, expressed delight in the FAO’s participation and urged states to learn techniques and practical methods for land restoration. “We must all join hands to facilitate the delivery on FAO target quickly,” he said.

The FAO Desk Officer, Precious Agbesor, representing the Country Representative, commended the World Bank and Federal Government of Nigeria for their commitment to land restoration and livelihoods improvement of the project targeted communities. “FAO is fully aware of the expectations regarding the practical demonstration and technical support for land restoration. We understand the importance of showcasing techniques in land restoration using appropriate implements,” he said.

Mr. Agbesor further noted that FAO remains committed to high-quality capacity development support to ensure the success of the ACReSAL Project. “Our team has carefully selected relevant topics which include community engagement in land restoration, techniques in land restoration, seedlings selection, water conservation and soil management and analysis as well as hands-on demonstration in the field,” he added.

The mission will also focus on value chain development and mapping of non-timber forest products to identify economic opportunities linked to restoration. “The topic also includes Value Chain Development mapping of Non-Timber Forest Project (NTFP) to identify economic opportunities that are links to restoration,” Mr. Agbesor explained.

Through this collaboration, the World Bank, FAO, and Federal Government of Nigeria aim to foster a unified approach to restoration targets and promote sustainable land management practices. The mission’s success will depend on the active participation of all stakeholders, including state project coordinators and natural resources officers.

By working together, the team aims to fast-track land restoration and achieve the project’s objectives. The ACReSAL project is a significant step towards restoring Nigeria’s degraded landscapes and improving the livelihoods of communities.