IITA Forest Center celebrates Biodiversity Day 2026 with major restoration and community impact
22 May 2026
As the world commemorates the International Day for Biodiversity 2026, IITA–CGIAR, through the IITA Forest Center, celebrates remarkable strides in restoring degraded landscapes, conserving biodiversity, and empowering communities across Nigeria and beyond.
In the last 5 years, the IITA Forest Center has successfully restored 319 hectares of degraded land through strategic reforestation and conservation initiatives. More than 309,000 seedlings representing 82 native tree species have been planted across restoration sites, contributing significantly to biodiversity recovery, ecosystem stability, and habitat regeneration for wildlife.
These restoration efforts are also delivering measurable climate benefits. Current projections estimate a carbon sequestration potential of 10 to 50 tons per hectare. This translates to an estimated 3,190 to 15,950 tons of carbon captured, underscoring the importance of forests as natural climate solutions in addressing the growing global climate crisis.
Speaking on the significance of the day, IITA Forest Center Manager, Dr Adewale Awoyemi, noted, “Biodiversity conservation goes beyond protecting trees and wildlife; it also involves strengthening communities and creating sustainable opportunities for people living around forest landscapes.”
This people-centered approach has become a defining feature of the IITA Forest Center’s conservation strategy. Through its restoration projects, 116 individuals have directly benefited from livelihood support initiatives. Of this number, 44 people are directly employed in restoration-related activities, including nursery management, tree planting, site maintenance, and fire control operations, providing immediate income while fostering local ownership of conservation efforts.
Beyond short-term employment, IITA Forest Center has continued investing in long-term human capital development. Seventy-two beneficiaries, representing 62 percent of engaged individuals, received targeted skills training in vegetable production, beekeeping, IT placements, and internship opportunities. These interventions are helping communities build sustainable livelihood pathways that reduce pressure on forest resources while improving household resilience.
IITA Forest Center has also continued to champion bird monitoring, native species conservation, environmental education, and community engagement across multiple landscapes. Through collaborations with local communities, researchers, conservation partners, and government staff, IITA Forest Center supports initiatives that promote habitat protection, ecological restoration, and sustainable land-use practices.
In recent years, IITA Forest Center has intensified efforts to conserve indigenous tree species, restore forest reserves, and monitor bird and wildlife populations as indicators of ecosystem health. Environmental awareness campaigns, school engagements, and community outreach programs have further strengthened public understanding of the importance of biodiversity conservation for food security, climate adaptation, and sustainable development.
This year’s celebration highlights the critical role forests play in sustaining life, mitigating climate change, and supporting livelihoods, while reaffirming IITA Forest Center’s commitment to building resilient ecosystems and resilient people together. As biodiversity loss, land degradation, and climate change continue to threaten ecosystems globally, IITA Forest Center emphasized the urgent need for collective action and stronger investments in nature-based solutions.
Through science-driven restoration, inclusive partnerships, and community-focused conservation, IITA Forest Center continues to demonstrate that protecting biodiversity is not only essential for the planet but also critical for building healthier, more resilient societies.
Contributed by Folake Oduntan
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