NCF extends its efforts to the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Forest in Anambra State, where they have planted 10,000 trees, including the Giant African Breadfruit, Indigenous Orange, Cashew, Sourop/Guanabana/Graviola, and Bush Mango These trees were carefully selected in consultation with university students from the community. They are all native to eastern Nigeria, and the surrounding communities highly value them for their nutritional and cultural significance. This project has the potential to provide employment opportunities for local youth in the area if properly financed. “At the core of NCF’s approach is the belief that involving local communities in forest restoration efforts not only ensures sustainability and protection but also contributes to urban greenery, reducing the urban heat island effect and enhancing people’s overall well-being. This strategy creates a win-win situation where the community actively participates in protecting and benefitting from their environment, strengthening livelihoods through forest-based products and carbon sequestration while preserving their cultural and ecological heritage”, explains the NCF representative, Folake Salawu.