By Tina Chinyere – PortHarcourt
A new report by the Habitat Conservation Group has exposed the growing impact of deforestation and forest-related activities on women and girls in Nigeria’s Niger Delta region.
The study, conducted across five communities in Cross River State in September 2025, found that the depletion of forests is forcing women to walk longer distances to fetch firewood, water, and wild fruits increasing both their physical and economic burdens.
According to the report, over 68 percent of women in the surveyed areas depend directly on forest products such as palm fruit, herbs, and firewood for their livelihoods. However, more than half said these resources have become scarce, leading to a sharp drop in income. Many now resort to small-scale trading or rely on loans to sustain their households.
Beyond the economic strain, the findings highlighted rising health and safety risks. Cases of persistent coughing, eye irritation, and waterborne infections were common, while many young girls reported missing school to help their mothers gather firewood. Some also faced harassment along remote forest paths.
Despite these challenges, the report documented notable examples of resilience. Women in two of the affected communities have formed Green Circles volunteer groups that promote tree planting, the use of clean cookstoves, and sustainable forest management practices.
Supported by the Global Greengrants Fun, the initiative also engaged local leaders and policymakers, who pledged to integrate gender perspectives into community forestry programs.
“This project gave women a voice in discussions that affect their survival. Forests are not just trees they are the backbone of many families’ livelihoods,” a member of the Habitat Conservation Group stated.
The organization is urging government agencies and development partners to adopt gender-sensitive forestry policies, strengthen reforestation drives, and expand access to clean energy solutions to ease the burden on rural women and safeguard the environment across the Niger Delta.
