The Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes Project, ACReSAL Nigeria, on Monday convened an inception meeting in Abuja to design a Payments for Ecosystem Services, PES, pilot scheme aimed at rewarding communities for protecting and restoring the environment.
The meeting brought together stakeholders to develop a framework that will translate environmental stewardship into direct economic benefits for local communities.
Organizers said the pilot builds on ACReSAL’s achievement of over 800,000 hectares of restored land across northern Nigeria.
According to the project team, the PES framework is designed to create a system where individuals and communities that conserve forests, watersheds, and farmlands receive financial incentives. The goal is to move beyond restoration to “visible yield”, measurable improvements in livelihoods, agricultural productivity, and ecosystem health.
ACReSAL officials noted that the pilot will test how payments can be structured, verified, and delivered transparently, while ensuring long-term sustainability of restored landscapes. The framework is expected to lay the groundwork for scaling the model nationwide if results prove effective.
The project is funded by the World Bank and implemented by the Federal Ministry of Environment in collaboration with 19 northern states and the FCT. ACReSAL’s mandate is to increase the adoption of sustainable landscape management practices and strengthen Nigeria’s resilience to climate change.
With the inception meeting concluded, the next phase will involve stakeholder consultations, baseline assessments, and selection of pilot sites where the PES scheme will be tested.
