What is the link between rising deforestation and poverty in Nigeria?

Mar 31, 2022

Fire and logging are destroying vast amounts of primary forest cover in Nigeria. Image: Unsplash/Vlad Hilitanu

Morgan Erickson-Davis

Senior Editor, Mongabay

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A close view of burnt trees and other vegetation

Fire is often used to clear land for agriculture in Nigeria. Image: Mongabay/Orji Sunday for Mongabay

A satellite image of forest reserves in Nigeria

Satellite data shows that Akure-Ofosu and adjacent forest reserves lost large areas of tree cover between 2001 and 2021. Image: Mongabay/Basemap by Planet, Powered by Resource Watch, Mapbox, OpenStreetMap

Animals in the Nigerian forest reserves are losing their homes and being hunted. Image: Unsplash/Patrick Beznoska

Workers process timber at a sawmill near Akure-Ofosu Forest Reserve in southwestern Nigeria

Forest reserves are being used by some Nigerians to escape poverty. Image: Mongabay/Orji Sunday for Mongabay

A close view of trees with cocoa growing on them

Growing numbers of farmers are cultivating cocoa in the forest reserves in southwestern Nigeria. Image: Mongabay/Orji Sunday for Mongabay

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