Nigeria is concentrating on creating a national roadmap for the preservation of its mangrove forests and is giving priority to nature-based solutions to address climate change. These forests, which make up 5% of the world’s mangroves and are the largest in Africa and the third largest globally, have many advantages, such as the ability to sequester carbon, strengthen coastal resilience, and serve as a hub for Climate Finance through the carbon market. The Mangrove Breakthrough Initiative (MBI), which aims to raise $4 billion by 2030, was introduced at COP27 in 2022 to raise funds for mangrove restoration.
In order to achieve these objectives, the National Council on Climate Change Secretariat (NCCCS) Director General, Dr. Nkiruka Maduekwe, is dedicated to organising efforts. On January 10, 2025, she called a conference of media experts to talk about behavioural change and public education, with a focus on working together to implement the Climate Change Act (CCA 2021). Acknowledging the media’s contribution to increasing climate literacy, she supported Goal 13 of the Sustainable Development Agenda, which encourages Education and the development of Climate Action abilities.
Mangroves are known for their remarkable capacity to store carbon.
More so, the consequences of climate change, such as droughts, deforestation, flooding, and increasing sea levels, are particularly dangerous for Nigeria. Given that more than 70% of the population depends on livelihoods that are susceptible to climate change and that the population is expected to rise to over 400 million by 2050, the NCCCS confronts many obstacles. Their strategy plan, “Amplifying Nature-Based Climate Solutions,” lists initiatives such as capacity-building initiatives, climate summits, mangrove exhibits, and tree planting. Financial limitations, however, make implementation difficult. In order to promote sustainable development and raise public awareness, the NCCCS emphasises the significance of funding climate education.
Significant volumes of carbon dioxide (CO₂) are captured and stored by Nigeria’s mangrove forests, which are essential for carbon sequestration. These ecosystems retain significant amounts of carbon in their biomass and soils, making them extremely effective carbon sinks. However, more research is needed to determine the precise carbon sequestration capability of Nigerian mangroves in order to produce accurate quantitative data. Mangroves are known around the world for their remarkable capacity to store carbon. With their biomass and soils, they can store up to 1,000 tonnes of carbon per hectare, which is up to four times more than terrestrial forests can do. Because of this important ability, mangroves can help mitigate climate change by lowering atmospheric CO₂ levels.
Funding for nature-based solutions can be improved.
Financial and logistical obstacles stand in the way of Nigeria’s adoption of nature-based solutions like mangrove restoration. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in order to adequately address climate change, biodiversity loss, and land degradation, yearly investments in nature-based solutions must rise from $200 billion to $542 billion by 2030. Only 1.2 percent of these technologies’ cost-effective potential is now supported by the voluntary carbon market. Funding for nature-based solutions can be improved by innovative financial tools, such as Insurance products that reduce Investment risk.
To improve market confidence, Howden’s Carbon Credits Warranty and Indemnity policy, for instance, offers buyers of carbon credits cash guarantees. Furthermore, parametric insurance provides quick compensation for the effects of natural disasters, raising the likelihood of successful recovery. Policymakers, environmental activists, and local people all have different viewpoints on the preservation of mangroves. Mangroves are a common source of income for the local population, who use the materials for Traditional Medicine and fishing. Environmentalists stress the ecological value of mangroves in sustaining biodiversity and preventing Erosion and storm damage to coastal regions.
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Policymakers prioritise striking a balance between conservation and development demands, acknowledging the benefits of incorporating traditional ecological knowledge into contemporary conservation measures and the potential of mangroves in mitigating the effects of climate change. Through community-based mangrove restoration projects, policy advocacy, and education about the role of mangroves in mitigating climate change, citizens can actively support the National Council on Climate Change Secretariat’s (NCCCS) initiatives. Participating in educational initiatives and encouraging sustainable practices in nearby communities might help NCCCS’s efforts to protect Nigeria’s mangrove forests succeed by fostering a sense of shared responsibility.