The importance of forests in sustaining life on Earth cannot be overstated. Trees serve as natural carbon sinks, combat climate change, and protect biodiversity.
Yet, despite their crucial role, deforestation and indiscriminate tree felling continue at an alarming rate, particularly in Nigeria.
The Urgency of Sustainable Development
The concept of sustainable development, as defined by the Brundtland Commission in 1987, emphasizes meeting present needs without jeopardizing the ability of future generations to meet theirs.
However, economic development is often pursued at the expense of environmental sustainability, leading to a dangerous conflict between human progress and ecological degradation.
With global climate change accelerating, largely due to human activities, planting and maintaining trees should be a priority.
Forests help absorb greenhouse gases, stabilize weather patterns, and support numerous life forms. Unfortunately, instead of conservation efforts, we are witnessing rampant deforestation in the name of development.
A Reckless Approach to Deforestation
In Nigeria, state governments and policymakers are complicit in this environmental disaster.
Many leaders sign international climate agreements but fail to implement sustainable forestry practices at home.
Instead, forests are cleared indiscriminately for commercial gain, often without proper environmental impact assessments (EIA).
For example, trees planted to prevent erosion and flooding are being removed without replacement, sometimes to make way for housing estates.
In some cases, entire forests are destroyed based on misguided security policies. The suggestion to destroy Sambisa Forest to curb insurgency is an example of short-sighted thinking that disregards the ecological consequences.
Even higher institutions, which should promote conservation, are guilty of deforestation. In many universities, trees are felled without consulting environmental experts.
The University of Ibadan’s Heritage Parks and Gardens, which was established in 2008 to commemorate the school’s 60th anniversary, was completely destroyed in 2024 to make way for a new Senate Building—despite alternative locations being available.
The Need for a Sustainable Approach
We are not against the responsible use of forest resources. Trees mature and may need to be harvested for economic purposes.
However, clear-cutting should not be the default solution. A sustainable forestry plan should include replanting and nurturing new trees to replace those removed.
Nigeria has experts trained in forest management who can guide policymakers. There is no need to rely on foreign consultants when local professionals can provide sustainable solutions.
Yet, due to ignorance and corruption, quacks are allowed to oversee deforestation efforts, treating trees merely as timber rather than vital components of our ecosystem.
The government must prioritize environmental conservation. Policymakers should stop using deforestation as a quick revenue source and focus on sustainable development.
Universities and research institutions must set an example by promoting tree planting and conservation, rather than contributing to the problem.
If reckless deforestation continues, Nigeria will face severe environmental consequences, including desertification, loss of biodiversity, and worsening climate conditions.
Those enabling this destruction—whether politicians or civil servants—will one day be held accountable.
Nature has its own way of taking revenge, and if we continue to ignore the warnings, we may soon find ourselves paying a heavy price. The time to act is now.
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