The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) says addressing desertification by restoring degraded lands would create about 10 million jobs and provide food security to 20 million people in the country.

In an interview, Oladapo Soneye, NCF Head of Communication, said possible ways to address desertification were through effective collaboration from all levels of government, Non- Governmental Organisations, and individuals both locally and globally among others.

Mr Soneye explained that desertification was a persistent degradation of dryland ecosystems by climatic variations and human activities.

He said that addressing desertification, reforestation, climate change, and other environmental challenges should be a major programme which individuals, corporate organisations, government agencies and other stakeholders must intensify efforts through strong awareness.

He said that the NCF had a workshop with some relevant stakeholders, aimed at enhancing biodiversity mainstreaming in the actions of the Great Green Wall (GGW) under the aegis of the Pan-African Agency of GGW (PAGGW).

Mr Soneye said it would address climate change resilience by ecosystems and communities and improve food security in about 11 countries of the Sahel region in Africa.

He said the foundation had implemented a tree planting project as part of their green recovery strategy along the GGW corridor in five states.

Mr Soneye noted that the NCF had been working with the National Agency of the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) to ensure that degraded lands were restored.

He added that partnering with the agency had improved the livelihood of local communities and integrated biodiversity through agricultural integrated community farms.

The NCF communication head said that more funds should be released to encourage NGOs, CSOs and other relevant organisations who were determined to address environmental challenges in the country.

(NAN)