In conjunction with the Nigerian government, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has launched a new program to enhance sustainable landscape management called the Participatory Informed Landscape Approach (PILA).
The first PILA multi-stakeholder workshop, conducted in Calabar, Cross River State, from March 17 to 20, 2025, brought together key national and state-level actors to discuss Integrated Landscape Management (ILM) strategies for the FOLUR Impact Programme (FOLUR-IP) Nigeria project. The discussions focused on landscape evaluations, sustainable agri-food systems, and climate resilience policy routes.
Prof. Anthony Owan Enoh, Secretary to the Cross River State Government, spoke at the opening event about agriculture’s critical role in the state’s Economic Masterplan, emphasising the region’s ability to create food security and economic prosperity. He stated that youth restlessness is decreasing due to improved livelihoods provided by cocoa and palm oil value chains.
FAO Representative in Nigeria and to ECOWAS, Mr. Dominique Koffy Kouacou, underscored PILA’s role in equipping stakeholders with tools for sustainable land use, climate adaptation, and policy engagement.
“These capacity-building opportunities are essential for fostering food security and resilient livelihoods, particularly in landscapes vulnerable to climate change,” he stated.
Participants also discussed crucial policy problems, such as compliance with the EU Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products (EUDR). Laura Guarnieri, PILA project lead, stated that the workshop aims to raise awareness and empower stakeholders with practical ILM and agroecology techniques.
The PILA method combines participatory assessments, discourse, and consensus building. Two major workshops are scheduled for 2025. The second session will focus on refining transition paths to ensure they are consistent with national policies and sustainability goals.
Nigeria is taking significant steps towards sustainable food systems by combining environmental protection and economic resiliency.
Source: EnviroNews Nigeria
