A joint venture between NNPC and FIRST Exploration & Petroleum Development Company, alongside the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, has started transplanting 100,000 nursery-raised indigenous tree seedlings in Bayelsa State. The ALEC project aims to plant 500,000 trees across 11 littoral communities over five years to restore coastal forests, protect shorelines, and capture carbon. The initiative also includes environmental education and alternative livelihood programs for local youth. The project targets communities in Southern Ijaw and Brass LGAs, where coastal erosion has steadily threatened homes and ecosystems. Organizers say the trees will help reduce erosion impact, support biodiversity, and create new economic opportunities beyond fishing, such as eco-tourism and agriculture. Over 220 youth volunteers are being trained in tree planting and restoration skills. This is a concrete example of private sector and NGO collaboration on nature-based climate solutions in the Niger Delta. The project explicitly ties afforestation to carbon sequestration and community resilience, making it relevant for carbon credit markets and climate finance discussions.
