03/09/2026
In 2024, the Nigerian Association of Women in Agriculture (NAWIA) launched the project on "Establishment of Forest User Groups (FUG) in target communities and equipping of Forest User Groups with Plant-Pollinator enhancement equipment and activities". The project was funded by United Nations Development Programme - UNDP and Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Network - BES-Net through the Federal Ministry of Environment. This significant event took place on 19th February 2024 and marked a pivotal step towards enhancing biodiversity and promoting sustainable environmental practices in our target communities.
The main objective of the project was to increase plant pollinator activities through restoration of pollinator habitats and pollinator populations, towards ensuring increased food production. The project aimed to additionally provide a livelihood opportunity for the smallholder women in the communities through the marketing of the honey from the apiaries, thus creating livelihoods from environmental restoration.
Two Forest User Groups, each comprising 25 members, were officially inaugurated by the local government authorities, empowering them to take charge of their forest resources and implement essential conservation projects and activities.
The event brought together key stakeholders, including representatives from the Benue State Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Environment, local government councils, and community leaders. Together, they discussed collaborative approaches to restoring biodiversity and enhancing pollinator activities through targeted reforestation and restoration efforts. Clear guidelines were established for the operations of the FUGs, fostering accountability and a shared vision for successful implementation.
The response from attendees, including government stakeholders, was overwhelmingly positive:
Mr. Victor Ivase, Sectional Head of Forestry, emphasized the importance of collaboration in restoring lost biodiversity.
Mr. Solomon Abu Owoicho, representing the Benue State Commissioner for Agriculture, highlighted the commitment to support reforestation efforts, including providing economic tree seedlings for the community.
Philomina Iwodi from the Ministry of Water Resources, Environment and Climate Change, announced the ambitious goal of planting 1 billion trees by 2030, reinforcing that the ministry will actively support organizations and individuals participating in tree planting initiatives.
Today, the project, which was a pilot, has recorded some commendable achievements, including the training of 50 FUGs members in beekeeping, reforestation, best forest management, and biodiversity conservation practices. Both Forest User Groups have collectively planted 1000 trees (Mahogany and Malina), successfully carried out the establishment of 40 bee hives apiary, and collectively harvested and sold over 160 litres of honey. The FUGs developed a work plan to guide their activities, with which they have collectively conducted a total of 8 community forest resource management sensitization outreaches across the two communities and successfully mapped out spaces for tree-planting activities targeting a total of 4000 additional trees.
With sustained funding, effective monitoring, community participation, and ownership, the model presents huge potential for scalability, contribution, and impact on the Nationally Determined Contributions as well as other Multilateral Environmental Agreements.
