ACReSAL: FAO LEADS LAND RESTORATION DRIVE IN BORNO STATE.

By Raymond Enoch.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), with funding from the World Bank through the ACReSAL project, is providing technical support to restore 458 hectares of native trees and build local capacity on land restoration techniques and sustainability across Bama, Mafa, and Ngamdu in Borno State, Nigeria.

The FAO team joined the Federal Project Management Unit (FPMU) in Borno for a mission packed with impact. The delegation paid courtesy visits to key stakeholders including the Shehu of Bama, the Chairman of Mafa Local Government Area, and the College of Education in Bama, where 20,000 seedlings will be planted on 125 hectares of land. Community engagement sessions were held to strengthen participation and ownership of restoration efforts.

The mission also featured capacity building for Community Interest Groups (CIGs), State Project Management Units (SPMUs), and ministry representatives. Training focused on land restoration techniques, sustainability practices, and the neem value chain. Additional sessions covered direct seed sowing, social safeguards, and mapping of non-timber forest products (NTFPs).

This collaboration is actively restoring degraded lands, enhancing climate resilience, and empowering local communities with the knowledge and tools for long-term environmental stewardship in Nigeria.