FAO consolidates its technical assistance in Nigeria to expand large-scale land restoration across the country

Northern Nigeria is facing increasing challenges from land degradation, desertification and climate change. In response, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), through the ACReSAL (Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes) project, is working with national and local partners to support large-scale restoration of degraded ecosystems, improve livelihoods and build climate resilience.

To strengthen capacities towards these ends, a four-day hands-on training was held in Kano and Jigawa States, bringing together 38 experts from 10 northern states—Borno, Yobe, Katsina, Taraba, Kano, Sokoto, Adamawa, Kebbi, Bauchi and Jigawa. Participants included specialists from federal and state project management units (FPMU and SPMU), as well as non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working in forestry, agriculture, climate change, and gender. The training combined a half-day classroom session with three and a half days of fieldwork in two different sites and States.

A group of trainees were taken to the 136-hectare Gumawa restoration site in Kano State, which was ploughed by the Delfino tractor, planted and seeded in 2024. The Delfino has become a vital tool in FAO’s land restoration work, enabling the efficient restoration of large swathes of land and substantially reducing the workload of rural communities compared to manual preparation. Participants also learned how to assess tree survival and growth and practiced planting techniques. Technical recommendations were made, including the need to integrate fodder grass species which can supply feed within one year of planting, thereby increasing fodder production for livestock, providing income from surplus harvest and contributing to enhancing biodiversity. Ten native tree species were additionally planted, among which different acacias, baobab, tamarind, mahogany and parkia.

“We are here to assess what we did well and what we didn’t. Today alone, we’ve planted 20,000 indigenous trees, and more will be planted to replace the dead ones,” said Precious Agbesor, FAO’s focal point for the project. He also added that a part of this restored land, estimated at 100 hectares, could be converted to farmland by next year to boost food production. “This is one of the quickest wins of the project. If this land is restored, it will benefit the community, the State, and the country”.

The recently ploughed Shabaru restoration site hosted the training session with a second group of trainees in Jigawa State, which was yet to be planted. Initial plans by communities to use exotic eucalyptus and neem were thereafter technically revised, following FAO’s guidance and recommendation to prioritize selected native species. Community consultations that followed involving both male and female community members led to the selection of baobab, mango, moringa, parkia and balanites for planting. The training was an opportunity to plant a 50 ha demonstrative plot with the active participation of community members.

“We are truly grateful for the support that has been provided” says Lubabatu Auwal Dauda, a female community member from Shabaru, Jigawa State. “Our animals have not been left behind, as fodder has also been established, which will help in addressing the issue of encroachement”.

As the country prepares for future planting seasons, such collaborative efforts between FAO and communities are essential to ensure that land restoration is carried out in accordance with the highest quality standards to ultimately reverse land degradation, improve food security, and build resilience in vulnerable communities.

Through the ACReSAL project, FAO provides technical assistance aimed at addressing the challenges of land degradation and climate change in Northern Nigeria on a multi-dimensional scale. The scale of this project is unprecedented in the country, with the ambitious objective to restore 350.000 ha of degraded lands in 20 dryland States of the country by 2028. This initiative is part of the larger Action Against Desertification programme, which supports large-scale restoration efforts across Africa’s Great Green Wall.