Community-led Agroecology, Agroforestry Practices Advocated To Address Land Degradation, Biodiversity Loss – Science Nigeria

Report on the Stakeholders’ Summit on Community Agroecology and Agroforestry in Nigeria

1.0 Introduction

A multi-stakeholder summit was convened in Abuja, Nigeria, to address the interconnected crises of land degradation, biodiversity loss, and food insecurity. Participants from government, research institutions, traditional authorities, and development organizations advocated for the reinforcement of community-led agroecology and agroforestry. The summit’s core objective was to explore grassroots solutions to restore ecosystems and enhance rural livelihoods, directly contributing to the achievement of multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

2.0 Summit Objectives and Strategic Alignment with SDGs

The director of the Biodiversity Education and Resource Centre (BERC), Andrew Iloh, outlined the summit’s primary goals, which are fundamentally aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The initiative, supported by the GEF Small Grants Programme, aims to create a collaborative framework for sustainable land management.

1. Identify Best Practices: To document and promote successful indigenous and modern agroecological methods that support SDG 15 (Life on Land) by conserving biodiversity and restoring degraded land.
2. Explore Collaboration Opportunities: To foster partnerships among diverse stakeholders, in line with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), to scale up effective interventions.
3. Design an Action Framework: To develop a coordinated strategy for sustainable land and livelihood systems, directly targeting SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) by building resilient food systems and SDG 1 (No Poverty) by improving rural economies.

A key outcome was the launch of the BERC Agroecology and Agroforestry Manuals, designed to guide field implementation and capacity building.

3.0 Key Issues and Challenges Impacting Sustainable Development

Presentations at the summit highlighted the severity of environmental and social challenges in Nigeria, underscoring the urgency for action on several SDGs.

3.1 Land Degradation and Food Insecurity

• Prof. Musa Dickson of the Trans-Saharan Research Centre reported that 46 million Nigerians inhabit degraded land, leading to diminished agricultural productivity and increased vulnerability. This situation directly undermines progress towards SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 15.3 (combat desertification and restore degraded land).
• Globally, 231 million people face food insecurity, with a significant number in Nigeria. Agroecology and agroforestry were presented as viable pathways to enhance soil health and restore land productivity.

3.2 Deforestation and Biodiversity Loss

• The Federal Ministry of Environment stated that Nigeria has lost over 6.1 million hectares of forest, primarily due to unsustainable agricultural expansion. This represents a major setback for SDG 15.2 (halt deforestation and restore degraded forests).
• HRH Ayedoo Nyizeassan, the Etsu of Kwali, noted the decline of traditional practices like mixed cropping and the erosion of indigenous knowledge, which historically protected biodiversity and aligns with the principles of SDG 15.5 (protect biodiversity and natural habitats).

4.0 Stakeholder Contributions and Commitments

4.1 Traditional and Community Leadership

The Etsu of Kwali emphasized the historical role of indigenous communities as custodians of ecological knowledge. He lamented that population growth and climate change have weakened traditional conservation rules, accelerating environmental decline. This highlights the need to integrate traditional knowledge into modern strategies to achieve SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15.

4.2 Government and Institutional Response

The Federal Ministry of Environment acknowledged the need for stronger institutional coordination to combat deforestation. Key challenges identified include:

• Weak agricultural extension services
• Insecure land tenure for farmers
• Poorly developed value chains for agroforestry products

Addressing these institutional barriers is critical for the widespread adoption of sustainable practices necessary to meet SDG targets.

4.3 Research and Development Sector

The Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) reaffirmed its commitment to supporting research and extension systems that promote ecological farming. The council pledged to support policies that advance SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) by ensuring food security while safeguarding the environment, calling for collective action to balance agriculture with nature.

5.0 Conclusion and Path Forward

The summit concluded with a consensus on the critical role of community-centred agroecology and agroforestry in building a resilient and sustainable future for Nigeria. Participants expressed optimism that the collaborative commitments made will translate into concrete actions. The path forward requires a multi-pronged approach grounded in SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), uniting communities, policymakers, and researchers. The successful implementation of the summit’s outcomes is essential for making substantive progress on SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 15 (Life on Land), ensuring that Nigeria’s food systems can support both current and future generations.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger – The article directly addresses food insecurity in Nigeria and proposes agroecology as a solution to build a resilient food system.
• SDG 15: Life on Land – This is a central theme, with detailed discussion on tackling land degradation, biodiversity loss, and deforestation through sustainable practices like agroforestry.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – The article describes a multi-stakeholder summit involving government, research institutions, and community leaders, emphasizing collaboration to achieve sustainable agriculture and environmental goals.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Under SDG 2 (Zero Hunger):
  • Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality. The article’s focus on “community-led agroecology and agroforestry initiatives” to “restore damaged land, enhance soil health and rebuild biodiversity” directly aligns with this target.
• Under SDG 15 (Life on Land):
  • Target 15.2: By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally. The article highlights that Nigeria has “lost more than 6.1 million hectares of forest mainly due to unsustainable agricultural practices” and promotes agroforestry as a key solution.
  • Target 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world. The article explicitly mentions the goal of tackling “worsening threats of land degradation” and notes that “around 46 million Nigerians live on degraded land,” with agroecology offered as a pathway to “restore damaged land.”
  • Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species. The article calls for action against “biodiversity loss” and notes that indigenous communities have historically been “custodians of ecological knowledge essential to biodiversity preservation.”
• Under SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals):
  • Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources, to support the achievement of the sustainable development goals in all countries, in particular developing countries. The summit described in the article, which brought together “government institutions, research bodies, traditional authorities and development organisations,” is a clear example of such a multi-stakeholder partnership designed to “deepen collaboration, encourage knowledge sharing and promote the co-creation of solutions.”

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• For SDG 2:
  • Indicator 2.1.1 (Prevalence of undernourishment): The article provides a statistic that can be used as a baseline for this indicator, stating that “more than 231 million people globally face food insecurity with a significant proportion residing in Nigeria.” Progress would be measured by a reduction in this number.
• For SDG 15:
  • Indicator 15.2.1 (Progress towards sustainable forest management): A key metric for this indicator is the rate of forest loss. The article provides a specific figure: “Nigeria has already lost more than 6.1 million hectares of forest.” Tracking this figure over time would measure progress in halting deforestation.
  • Indicator 15.3.1 (Proportion of land that is degraded over total land area): The article provides a direct measure of this indicator by stating that “around 46 million Nigerians live on degraded land.” Reducing this number would indicate progress toward restoring degraded land.
• For SDG 17:
  • Indicator 17.16.1 (Number of countries reporting progress in multi-stakeholder development effectiveness monitoring frameworks): While not providing a quantitative metric, the article implies progress through the establishment of a collaborative platform. The summit itself, the “action framework to support sustainable land management,” and the launch of the “BERC Agroecology and Agroforestry Manuals” serve as qualitative evidence of a functioning multi-stakeholder partnership.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: sciencenigeria.com