Within the last fifties years various International organizations and institutions have assisted in the afforestation programme of the Northern Sub-Saharan region of Nigeria especially with the coming of UNDP/FAO in 1964 when the Savanna Forestry Research Station was established. The institutes have put many areas of unproductive forest reserves to productive plantations of exotics species including Pinus spp, Eucalyptus spp., Tectona grandis, Gmelina sp., Acacias spp. and Azadirachta indica. The European Economic Community (EEC) and Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) have played various roles in tree nurseries’ establishment, training of field extension staff, planting of fruit trees on a variety of sites, establishment of shelter belts and village woodlots in rural areas. It is worth noting, however, that, the activities of some of the organizations have indirectly promoted the erosion of genetic resources of several indigenous species through use of exotic species and monoculture plantations. On the part of the Federal Government of Nigeria, efforts are being made to complement the efforts of these agencies through the setting up different community forestry programmes, education of the masses on the dangers of deforestation, regulations of grazing habit of livestock, promotion of tree planting campaigns and legislation back their activities. Renewed efforts on extension services geared towards the conservation of forest genetic resources of this region also in motion.
