By Oluwatoyin Adegoke
Ensuring the sustainable protection and management of natural resources for the benefit of the environment and its inhabitants was in focus as experts engaged stakeholders on the conservation of national biodiversity at a workshop in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The event marked the launch of the Global Environment Facility Project, GEF, with emphasis on Sustainable Use of Lowland Forest Mosaic landscapes in 4 focal states of Ogun, Ondo, Edo and Delta States.
The project being implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organisation, FAO, in collaboration with the National Park Service of Nigeria, was aimed at enhancing the conservation, sustainable use and restoration of lowland forest landscapes to protect biodiversity and strengthen the livelihood of local communities.
Participants deliberated on addressing a range of biodiversity challenges across the land and sea, with a focus on the sustainability of local communities, a healthy environment, poverty reduction and food security.
Stakeholders were reminded that Nigeria remained one of Africa’s richest biodiversity hubs, boasting more than 4700 plant species, 285 mammal species, as well as hundreds of birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish species.
The Minister of Environment, Malam Balarebe Lawal, who spoke through Mr Simeon Ezinkwo at the workshop, described the project as timely and a great step towards safeguarding the forest ecosystem and biodiversity.
Malam Lawal said the government was working assiduously with relevant agencies to strengthen the enforcement of relevant environmental laws while also increasing public awareness efforts on protecting the environment.
In the same vein, Country Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organisation, Mr. Koffy Kouacou, said the workshop would help to strengthen collaborations among stakeholders to promote integrated and sustainable management of lowland forests.
Represented by a Climate Change Specialist, Miss Nifesimi Ogunkua, the FAO Country Representative said the move was in line with Nigeria’s national environmental goals and its global commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity, to protect and conserve the country’s vital forest reserves.
Similarly, the Conservator-General of the National Park Service, Dr. Ibrahim Goni, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to sustainable conservation and urged the participants to come up with innovative and practical solutions to the growing challenges of biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation.
Other contributors equally affirmed that the gathering was an opportunity to validate implementation plans, assess institutional readiness and build shared understanding of short and long-term priorities to preserve natural resources and address the challenge of environmental degradation.
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