Strengthening Climate Resilience: ACReSAL Collaborates with Stakeholders to Create Catchment Plans in Northern Nigeria – DA NEWS

The Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project is making strides in northern Nigeria. They just kicked off discussions to create Strategic Catchment Management Plans (SCMPs) for five key river basins: Malenda, Kaduna-Mariga, Gurara-Gbako, Oshin-Oyi, and Sarkin-Powa-Kaduna.

This effort is part of a larger plan to develop 20 strategic catchment plans across 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Abdulhamid Umar, the National Project Coordinator, emphasized that engaging stakeholders is vital. Their input will help shape these plans and ensure they attract investment and lead to real benefits for local communities.

Umar mentioned that the SCMPs will focus on finding areas that need help, evaluating available resources, identifying potential threats, and crafting a strategic approach to combatting catchment degradation. So far, they’ve validated nine SCMPs, with eleven more to follow in the next ten days.

Beyond the strategic plans, ACReSAL is also working on 200 smaller micro catchment management plans. These plans will target smaller areas but are essential for the larger framework.

This project, backed by the World Bank and local governments, aims to fight land degradation, conserve water, restore ecosystems, and improve livelihoods in climate-sensitive areas of northern Nigeria. Hajiya Nafisat Musa-Buge, the Kwara State Commissioner for Environment, highlighted the importance of managing watersheds. She called them the “lifeline of communities,” essential for both the economy and ecosystem.

According to a recent report by the Nigerian Environmental Management Agency, effective watershed management can increase crop yields by up to 30%, showcasing the economic benefits of this initiative.

She assured that SCMPs for other river basins like Wase-Taraba and Hadejia-Jama’are have been developed and validated. The next steps will focus on seven ACReSAL states, including the Federal Capital Territory.

The ACReSAL project represents one of the most ambitious environmental efforts in Nigeria, tackling issues like climate risks and restoring degraded areas. It aims to improve the resilience of millions living in fragile, semi-arid regions.

This initiative reflects a growing understanding that environmental management is not just necessary for conservation but is also a key driver of economic growth and social well-being.

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