Latest news with #landrestoration
Zawya
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
World Bank-ACReSAL Nigeria recovers over 178,000 hectares of degraded land in 19 Northern states
The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscape Project (ACReSAL), a World Bank-supported initiative, has successfully recovered over 178,000 hectares of degraded land across 19 northern states affected by climate change. Abdulhamid Umar, National Project Coordinator for ACReSAL, disclosed this while speaking to journalists on the sidelines of a five-day retreat in Lagos. He said reclaiming 178,235 hectares out of the one million target for six years is a significant achievement toward restoring one million hectares of arable land in the region. 'This project, supported by the World Bank, addresses severe climate change challenges, particularly the encroaching Sahara Desert and land degradation in the 19 northern states. Our efforts aim to reverse land infertility caused by natural and human factors in a region with increasingly erratic rainfall,' Umar stated. Umar elaborated on the broader impact of ACReSAL: 'Our interventions, including dryland management, community-driven climate resilience activities, and agricultural support, have led to bumper harvests and improved livelihoods for over one million direct beneficiaries in just three years, with over 10 million indirect beneficiaries.' Looking ahead, Umar addressed project sustainability beyond its initial six-year funding cycle: 'Our strategy includes community ownership, establishing legal frameworks at the state level, and infrastructure development to ensure longevity.' Dr. Joy Iganya Agene, Task Team Leader for ACReSAL and Senior Environmental Specialist at the World Bank, underscored the project's impact, stressing that ACReSAL represents a significant stride in Nigeria's efforts to build climate resilience and restore degraded landscapes. 'The progress made demonstrates the effectiveness of strategic planning and land preparation,' Dr. Agene explained, adding that ACReSAL is optimistic about achieving 60-70% recovery of the targeted one million hectares in the coming year. Both Umar and Dr. Agene emphasised the strong commitment and collaboration from the federal government and state governors. Copyright © 2022 Nigerian Tribune Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Arab News
07-05-2025
- General
- Arab News
Saudi Arabia welcomes US-Houthi ceasefire deal
New land restoration guide to unify afforestation efforts RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has taken another step toward its ambitious afforestation goals with the publication of the official Land Restoration Guide for Non-Agricultural Areas. The guide is a comprehensive manual that will serve as a unified reference to direct environmental restoration projects across the Kingdom. It aims to ensure sustainable land management practices and support the goals of the Saudi Green Initiative, one of which is to plant 10 billion trees — the equivalent of rehabilitating 40 million hectares of degraded land. The National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification announced its publication on Wednesday with an event titled 'The Road to Restoring 40 Million Hectares.' Organized under the national afforestation program, the event brought together a range of experts to align on best practices and scientific approaches to land rehabilitation. Sameer Maleakah, director of the center's afforestation department, highlighted the Kingdom's ambitious environmental restoration goals. 'So far, we've restored over 313,000 hectares across various regions of the Kingdom,' Maleakah told Arab News. 'But it's not just about planting. Restoration begins with protecting the degraded areas — those affected by overgrazing, illegal logging, or desertification caused by human activities. 'We return these areas to their natural state, and once restored, they foster biodiversity, richer vegetation and denser tree cover. These sites then serve as natural parks or forests — whether mountainous or valley-based,' he added. Maleakah also highlighted the importance of inclusive action. 'It's crucial to involve local communities, civil society organizations and take full advantage of existing legislation, rainfall and cloud-seeding technologies to ensure success.' The center's CEO, Dr. Khalid Al-Abdulkader, echoed the importance of the program in his opening remarks, saying that land restoration is not only vital for environmental sustainability, but also plays a major role in food security, combating climate change and supporting rural livelihoods. With more than 141 million trees planted to date and restoration efforts underway using rainfall and treated water, the center continues to position the afforestation program as a long-term investment in Saudi Arabia's ecological and developmental future.
