Background

Over 70% of the population in the country still rely on biomass for fuelwood a reality that has pushed the rate of deforestation to alarming levels - over half of the country’s primary forests has been cut down in the last 10 years, exacerbated by rapid population growth.

The project is aimed at reducing Green House Gas emissions from the use of fuelwood during domestic, institutional and industrial use through integrated and sustainable fuelwood production and utilization, and promote sustainable biomass energy technologies in Nigeria using market based approaches. The project will promote sustainable fuel wood production and consumption in order to secure the flow of multiple environmental benefits, including carbon storage and sequestration. This will be achieved through a number of initiatives, including management of the production and procurement of fuelwood as well as the promotion of improved stoves/kilns in the domestic to reduce the demandof fuelwood, improve health and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Project achievements in the previous year (2017)

With the aim of securing land for woodlot plantation and to get local support for the implementation of the project, several consultations were held in over 30 communities in Cross River, Delta and Kaduna States. During these engagements trainings were also conducted at which gender related issues along the fuelwood business lines were highlighted. Over 500 fuelwood value chain actors in the three States have been trained on sustainable fuelwood management best practices and sensitized on its benefits to the country.

Baseline studies were also conducted to assess fuelwood availability and consumption rate in selected rural communities in Cross River, Delta and Kaduna States; - 3,500 hectares, 3,000 hectares and 1,000 hectares have been secured in Cross River, Kaduna and Delta States respectively.

A solar powered water pumping borehole to support the establishment of rural farmers managed woodlot in Cross River, Delta and Kaduna States was constructed and installed. Central tree nurseries have been established in each of the three States. 2,000 clean cookstoves produced locally and would be distributed to end-users through market based approaches.