During an event in Abeokuta, experts highlighted Nigeria’s vast biodiversity and its essential role in promoting environmental health, agricultural productivity, and overall sustainable growth. This meeting coincided with the launching of the GEF-7 Biodiversity Project, which aims to conserve Nigeria’s lowland forest ecosystems while enhancing the livelihoods of local communities. The event featured the validation of Multi-Stakeholder Platforms and focused on the conservation strategies necessary for sustaining both the environment and key economic sectors.

The program was organized by the Nigeria National Park Service in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization and the Global Environment Facility as part of a broader initiative to preserve biodiversity in Ogun and Edo states. The collaboration underscores the need for collective action in addressing the challenges of biodiversity loss while ensuring that economic development does not come at the expense of ecological health. The insights shared by attendees stress that protecting natural resources is vital not only for local communities but for achieving national and global environmental goals.

Experts stress that significant investments in biodiversity conservation are necessary to bolster food security, particularly as climate change poses increasing threats to agriculture and food systems. The GEF-7 Biodiversity Project serves as a response to these challenges, aiming to create a framework for sustainable use of biological resources that can support food security, water resource management, and health improvements. The success of this initiative could serve as a model for similar projects in other parts of Nigeria and beyond, advocating for a balance between development and conservation efforts.