AFF and Nigeria’s CBD focal point convene national policy dialogue on forest biodiversity

Event 2025-09-15 - 2025-09-17 - Abuja, Nigeria



15–17 September 2025 I Abuja, Nigeria 

The African Forest Forum (AFF), in partnership with the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Desk of the Federal Ministry of Environment, Nigeria, is organizing a national policy dialogue aimed at strengthening the integration of forestry into national biodiversity governance frameworks. The event is part of AFF’s ongoing Sida-supported project, “Transforming the African Forest Forum to enhance its capacity to improve livelihoods and environmental stability through better management of African forest and tree resources.”

The dialogue comes in the context of AFF’s 2024 studies on Africa’s forest biodiversity hotspots, which have focused on improving stakeholder understanding of how biodiversity, desertification, and climate change policies impact forest management; exploring climate-resilient value chains of biodiversity products and services; integrating traditional and indigenous knowledge into forest-based livelihoods; and promoting renewable biomass energy options that are efficient, environmentally friendly, and socially inclusive.

Through this initiative, AFF seeks to empower government agencies, civil society, private sector actors, local communities, women, and youth to take coordinated action for sustainable forest management, informed by African context-specific knowledge and scientific evidence. Strengthening environmental governance and policy coordination is critical to ensure the sustainable supply of ecosystem goods and services for socio-economic development and human well-being.

Rationale

Nigeria harbors exceptional biodiversity, including endemic species and diverse ecosystems ranging from the rainforests of Cross River to the Niger Delta’s coastal creeks, savannahs, mountains, and freshwater systems. However, fragmented governance and weak policy integration often undermine effective forest and biodiversity management. Strengthening coordination among sectoral policies—spanning environment, forestry, land, climate, and agriculture—is essential for achieving conservation goals.

Objectives

The national policy dialogue aims to:

  • Present findings from AFF’s national study on biodiversity policy instruments and forestry integration.
  • Identify institutional opportunities and challenges for improved forestry integration and policy coordination.
  • Facilitate inclusive dialogue among relevant sectors to build consensus on overcoming barriers and leveraging opportunities.
  • Develop a national roadmap outlining stakeholder roles, responsibilities, and an implementation timeline for sustainable forest biodiversity governance.

Expected Outcomes

By the conclusion of the dialogue, participants will have:

  • Validated a national report analyzing biodiversity policy instruments and their integration of forestry.
  • Informed key stakeholders on opportunities and challenges for inter-sectoral coordination.
  • Achieved consensus on priority actions to enhance forest governance.
  • Developed a shared roadmap detailing roles, responsibilities, timelines, and actions for implementation.
  • Established a framework for ongoing inter-institutional collaboration across forestry, biodiversity, and related sectors.

Workshop Approach

The three-day workshop will include:

  • Presentations on national biodiversity instruments, climate change, and desertification policies, with emphasis on forestry integration.
  • Key findings from policy analysis highlighting opportunities, barriers, and recommendations.
  • Group work sessions and plenary discussions to develop actionable solutions and a roadmap for intersectoral coordination.

Participants

About 30 participants will attend, representing government ministries and agencies, civil society, private sector, research institutes, Indigenous peoples, and youth and women-led organizations across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones.

For more information, contact:

For more information, download the Terms of Reference.