Environment Minister Launches Tree Planting Initiative in 2026

Balarabe Abass Lawal, the Minister of Environment, called on charcoal merchants and forestry stakeholders to adopt sustainable practices to aid the federal government's initiatives aimed at reversing deforestation and restoring degraded forests in Nigeria. This appeal was made during the launch of the 2026 Operation One Million Trees Tree Planting Programme, organized by the Association for Forest Conservation and Green Industrial Charcoal Merchants at the University of Ibadan.

The programme gathered various stakeholders, including forestry practitioners and environmentalists, to promote afforestation and responsible forest management. Lawal emphasized that tree planting is vital for combating climate change and restoring biodiversity.

He reiterated the Federal Ministry of Environment's commitment to sustainable forest management, highlighting the June 8, 2026, launch of the National Afforestation Programme. The minister, represented by Dr Osakwe Igbinosa, stressed that the success of afforestation should be measured by the survival and growth of trees, not just the number planted.