African environment ministers have strengthened cooperation through regional coalitions and harmonised strategies to address the continent’s ecological challenges.

Balarabe Lawal, Nigeria’s environment minister, said this in an interview after a High-Level Consultation on the Guinean Forest Biome at the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Yerevan, Armenia, on Tuesday.

The conference brought together ministerial representatives and delegates from Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, Benin Republic and Togo to strengthen regional environmental cooperation.

Mr Lawal said African countries were leveraging multi-state coalitions to address specific environmental challenges, protect biodiversity, and promote sustainable financing across the continent.

He said that the collaboration would equally promote equitable access to financing for conservation initiatives.

The minister said the meeting provided a strategic platform for networking, strengthening partnerships, sharing experiences, and developing a common vision for biodiversity conservation, forest and wildlife protection, ecosystem restoration, and sustainable financing.

According to him, participating countries explored opportunities to mobilise resources, strengthen cross-border collaboration and promote community-driven conservation initiatives through collective dialogue and coordinated environmental action.

Mr Lawal said African countries, united by shared environmental challenges and sustainability commitments, were working together to protect their natural heritage and build a greener, more resilient future for generations to come.

“We need to move from conservation commitments to measurable action, supported by long-term financing, effective monitoring, strong governance and meaningful community participation,” he said.

He said Nigeria’s leadership in the coalition demonstrated its commitment to biodiversity protection, ecosystem restoration and international environmental cooperation while creating opportunities to strengthen initiatives such as the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW).

The minister said protecting nature required more than designating conservation areas, stressing the need for sustained investment, inclusive partnerships and effective action to safeguard biodiversity for present and future generations.

Also speaking, Saleh Abubakar, the director-general of NAGGW, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to global biodiversity conservation and sustainable financing.

Mr Abubakar said the session focused on mobilising public and philanthropic financing, strengthening international partnerships, promoting community-led conservation and ensuring the sustainable management of protected areas. 

(NAN)