Borno State
Desertification and deforestation pressure across Borno drylands
In Borno, the loss of vegetation that feeds both livestock and people is driven by climatic variability, deforestation, overgrazing and fuelwood extraction – all sharpened by insecurity that makes forests dangerous to protect and complicates the state's large-scale tree-planting response. As one of Nigeria's 11 desertification frontline states, Borno anchors the north-eastern end of the Great Green Wall, whose 1,500 km corridor terminates at Abadam and aims to shield the livelihoods of some 40 million people. Cutting trees for firewood is not only ecologically damaging but physically risky, since the forests have sheltered armed groups and deter conservation work. A short three-to-four-month rainy season further limits how many planted trees survive to maturity, a core challenge for afforestation across the state.
Evidence and current condition
- Desertification in Borno is driven by climatic variability, deforestation, extensive and marginal-land cultivation, overgrazing, bush burning, fuelwood extraction, faulty irrigation and urbanisation.
- Borno is one of Nigeria's 11 desertification frontline states, where the Great Green Wall aims to shield the livelihoods of an estimated 40 million people and reduce farmer-herder conflict.
- Nigeria's Great Green Wall corridor runs about 1,500 km, ending at Abadam LGA in Borno – making the state the north-eastern terminus of the national green belt.
- Deforestation for firewood is not only ecologically destructive but physically dangerous, as forests have served as hideouts for armed groups, deterring conservation work.
- A short three-to-four-month rainy season limits tree survival to maturity, which experts flag as a core challenge for afforestation in the state.
Coordinates
| Area | Latitude | Longitude | Neighborhood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Konduga (Kawuri) | 11.6540° | 13.4160° | 2024 tree-planting flag-off site |
| Maiduguri | 11.8330° | 13.1510° | State capital / NAGGW Borno branch |
| Abadam | 13.7500° | 13.0000° | Northern terminus of Nigeria's Great Green Wall corridor |
| Gubio | 12.3330° | 12.7500° | Frontline dryland LGA |
Required interventions
- The 2024 '10 million trees' initiative – described as the largest tree-planting campaign of its kind in Nigeria's history – flagged off at Kawuri, Konduga LGA, targeting 10 million drought-resistant seedlings.
- Establishment of the Borno State branch of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) to coordinate anti-desertification work.
- Strong state warnings and enforcement against indiscriminate tree felling and deforestation.
- NAGGW shelterbelt development, integrated farming, water-harvesting infrastructure and community empowerment across frontline LGAs.
- Distribution of date palm and assorted seedlings under the NAGGW 50 million date palm programme, with each frontline state slated for at least 800,000 seedlings.
Additional proof sources
- 1. HumAngle – “Desertification: Borno State To Begin First Phase of '10 Million Trees' Project”.
https://humanglemedia.com/desertification-borno-state-to-begin-first-phase-of-10-million-trees-project/ - 2. BusinessDay – “Borno moves to control desertification, warns residents against deforestation”.
https://businessday.ng/news/article/borno-moves-to-control-desertification-warns-residents-against-deforestation/
Funding and support needed
Documentation is being prepared for implementation support and community participation.
Covers: Drought-resistant seedling nurseries, shelterbelt establishment, protected community woodlots and survival monitoring in a short rainy season
Potential funding partners
Institutions aligned with this work
These are potential alignment examples, not confirmed funding commitments. Partner documentation will be updated as conversations progress.
How others can help
- • Donate to support field documentation, community workshops and restoration work.
- • Partner with the project for research collaboration and knowledge exchange.
- • Volunteer for data review, outreach or event support where available.