IJSRSET1623159 | Received : 06 June 2016 | Accepted : 10 June 2016 | May-June 2016 [(2)3: 572-577] © 2016 IJSRSET | Volume 2 | Issue 3 | Print ISSN : 2395-1990 | Online ISSN : 2394-4099 Themed Section: Engineering and Technology 572 Sustainable Land Use and Forest Management for Socioeconomic Growth and Development in Nigeria Adams Ndalai Baba 1 , Mercy Inikpi Achoba 2 , Edo Oga Ojoko 3 1 Department of Urban and Regional Planning, School of Environmental Studies, The Federal Polytechnic Idah, P.M.B 1037 Idah, Kogi State, Nigeria 2 Department of Architectural Technology, School of Environmental Studies, The Federal Polytechnic Idah, P.M.B 1037 Idah, Kogi State, Nigeria. 3 Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM Skudai, Johor Bahru, Malaysia. ABSTRACT The rate of deforestation in Nigeria is considered one of the highest in the world resulting in land degradation, desertification and loss of biodiversity. Consequently, Nigeria’s contribution to global GHGs emissions, global warming and climate change has soared geometrically, threatening socioeconomic growth and sustainable development. Deforestation and by extension desertification adversely affects the livelihoods of forest dwelling people who dependent directly or indirectly on land and forests. The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) Goal 15 (G-15) aims to promote the sustainable management of forests, combat desertification, land degradation, loss of biodiversity and its effects on climate change in developing countries like Nigeria. Therefore, this paper proposes the concepts sustainable land use (SLU), forest resources management (FRM) and Protection of Biodiversity (PBD) as measures to climate change resulting rapid deforestation, desertification and land degradation in Nigeria. The results and conclusions of the paper submit that SLU, FRM and PBD can significantly reduce the effects of climate change. This can be achieved by investments in early warning systems, public awareness, and educational sensitization campaigns. The successful adoption and implementation of SLU, FRM and PBD practices can potentially stimulate long term socioeconomic growth and sustainable development in Nigeria. Keywords : Sustainability, Land Use, Forest Resources, Socioeconomic, Development, Nigeria I. INTRODUCTION The Paris Agreement (COP21) adopted by 195 countries in 2015, pledged to the long term objective of limiting the increase in global average temperature below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels. Similarly the treaty aims to limit the increase to 1.5 °C but cutting greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) to zero by 2065. The milestone agreement presents the first ever legally binding deal on climate change aimed at creating a global action plan on cutting anthropogenic emissions. Many analysts posit the Paris Agreement will stimulate the fusion of present day energy and environmental policies with carbon neutrality [1]. In line with treaty, governments around the world have pledged to cut GHGs but divesting from polluting fossil fuels, promoting renewables and preserving the world’s rich land, animal and forest resources. Additionally, the treaty plans to strengthen the capacity of developing countries to adapt to potential effects of climate changes through continued international support [2]. Currently, forest and vegetative plant materials account for 30 % of the earth’s surface providing food, water and shelter for millions of the world’s