Nigeria's environment minister Balarabe Lawal announced the country will use carbon markets and climate resilience programs to protect mangrove ecosystems in Cross River state. The announcement came at the close of a UK-funded project implemented by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation that ran from 2023 to June 2026. The project trained 4,827 people, 66 percent of them women, in climate-smart agriculture, forestry, and fisheries across 50 coastal communities. It registered 50 cooperatives to strengthen local institutions. The government says it will now scale up restoration efforts and leverage blue economy opportunities and carbon credits to sustain the work. The Cross River governor backed the approach, saying the project proved environmental collaboration and economic development can go together. The focus is on mangroves, which are high-carbon ecosystems that also protect coastlines and support fisheries.
