WORLD WILDLIFE DAY RAISES AWARENESS OF THE BENEFITS WILD FAUNA AND FLORA PROVIDES TO PEOPLE.
Oru Leonard
The Conservator General World of the National Park Service in Nigeria, Dr Ibrahim Goni has said that Wildlife Day is an opportunity to celebrate the many beautiful and varied forms of wild fauna and flora and to raise awareness of the multitude of benefits that their conservation provides to people.
The CG stated this in remark during a conference to mark the Wildlife Day 2021, at Abuja.
The CG stated this in remark during a conference to mark the Wildlife Day 2021, at Abuja.
He said that Wild Life Day also reminds us of the urgent need to step up the fight against wildlife crime and human induced reduction of species due to habitat loss, illegal trade in wild animals and their trophies, poaching/illegal hunting.
He expressed that the choice of this year’s theme “Forest and Livelihood Sustaining People and Planet”,
is apt now in the face many environmental challenges that are posing threats on our forests such as large scale deforestation through logging, Fuel-wood collection, Grazing, Looping, Hunting, Mining. Others are
Unsustainable Farming practices, Illegal Settlement, Urban expansion and Infrastructural development.
is apt now in the face many environmental challenges that are posing threats on our forests such as large scale deforestation through logging, Fuel-wood collection, Grazing, Looping, Hunting, Mining. Others are
Unsustainable Farming practices, Illegal Settlement, Urban expansion and Infrastructural development.
Dr Goni noted that it has become alarming with increasing demands for resources to sustain the ever expanding human population from the ever shrinking forest lands. The theme aligns with the SDGs 1, 12, 13 and 15 on the need to alleviate poverty, ensure sustainable use of resources and conserve life on earth.
“It is time to raise public awareness on the critical role forests play in sustaining wildlife species and the provision of ecosystem services that sustain livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people globally, particularly the indigenous and local communities with historic ties to the forest areas adjacent to them. Between 200 – 350 million people live within or adjacent forest areas relying more on ecosystem services provided by the forest and forest species such as food, fiber, energy, medicine, water, shelter, etc. hydrologic, nitrogen and carbon cycles; mitigation of effects of climate change (global warming by emission of greenhouse gases, carbon sequestration), climate stability and contribution to local and global economies”, he stated.
“It is time to raise public awareness on the critical role forests play in sustaining wildlife species and the provision of ecosystem services that sustain livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people globally, particularly the indigenous and local communities with historic ties to the forest areas adjacent to them. Between 200 – 350 million people live within or adjacent forest areas relying more on ecosystem services provided by the forest and forest species such as food, fiber, energy, medicine, water, shelter, etc. hydrologic, nitrogen and carbon cycles; mitigation of effects of climate change (global warming by emission of greenhouse gases, carbon sequestration), climate stability and contribution to local and global economies”, he stated.
However CG also noted that there are challenges despite the enormous contribution of forests to human survival, forest species as people are now at crossroad in view of the current crisis due to unsustainable utilization of forest resources as evident in climate change, biodiversity loss and health issues (COVID 19), insurgency and banditry which threaten the existence and survival of human race on planet earth.
In concluaion he stated, ” Thes negative consequences of deforestation include global warming, desertification, habitat fragmentation, loss in biodiversity/wildlife species, destruction of gene-pool, soil erosion, ocean surge, invasive species and disruption in rainfall regime, flooding, draught, loss of soil fertility, increase in marginal lands, reduction in agricultural production, famine, poverty, insecurity and global economic downturn.”
