Two separate validation workshops held recently Abuja, the federal capital city, and Calabar, the capital city of Cross River State, displayed an increasing stakeholder ownership of the National Framework Strategy and Cross River State REDD+ Strategy development process.
The forums likewise set the stage for a somewhat vital next-phase for the UN-REDD Programme in the country.
While the pilot site, Cross River State, is rounding off the Readiness phase, two new states – Nasarawa and Ondo – will soon be welcome into the UN-REDD+ fold.

Philip Bankole, Director of Forestry in the Federal Ministry of Environment (standing); Cross River State Commissioner for Climate Change and Forestry, Dr Alice Olok Ekwu (left); Mandisa Mashologu, Deputy Country Director (Programmes), UNDP Nigeria (second right); and Senior Regional Technical Advisor – United Nations Development Programme/UN-REDD+, Elsie Attafuah… in Abuja

Cross River State Commissioner for Climate Change and Forestry, Dr Alice Olok Ekwu (standing); Philip Bankole, Director of Forestry in the Federal Ministry of Environment (centre); and Mandisa Mashologu, Deputy Country Director (Programmes), UNDP Nigeria