WildAid launches conservation campaign, seeks stakeholders' support
-
Loading... - Elijah Efun
- 27 Jan 2022
- 410 Views
- 0 Like
- 0 Comment
The campaign developed in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Environment and other government agencies is targeted at inspiring Nigerians to end illegal bushmeat consumption and ivory trade.
WildAid plans to support enforcement activities, tackle the illegal wildlife trade and raise awareness of disappearing species, using the slogans ‘Keep them wild, keep us safe’ and ‘Poaching steals from us all’.
The launching held in Lagos, last week, attracted notable personalities including, the Minister of State for Environment, Sharon Ikeazor; Consul General, United States of America, Claire Pierangelo and Acting Head of Mission, Federal Republic of Germany, Dr. Bernd Von Munchow-Pohl.
Other influential voices that graced the occasion are Afrobeats artiste; David Adeleke; also Known as Davido, Nollywood actress, Stephanie Linus, comedian, Emmanuella Samuel and Josh2Funny, Miss Tourism Niigeria, Mercy Jessica Odjugo and religious leaders from the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC).
Speaking at the launch, Ikeazor called on stakeholders and Nigerians to work together to promote and institutionalise the ‘One Health’ approach, which recognises the intrinsic connection between human and animal health as well as resilient natural systems.
To prevent the next pandemic, she said that government would focus efforts on large-scale and long-term commitment to wildlife-rich places such as national parks.
She said well-managed national parks provide security for people and wildlife and establishes an enabling environment that could attract tourism, combat poaching, protect biodiversity, deliver on international commitments and create decent local jobs.
Ikeazor said: “The government is committed to protecting, restoring and promoting sustainable use of our biodiversity. We will support the sustainable management of forests, combat desertification, land degradation and halt biodiversity loss. Our collaboration with relevant agencies and stakeholders to stem the tide of wildlife overexploitation and trafficking has led to the development and implementation of strategies to combat corruption risk associated with transnational organised wildlife crime.”
The minister said Nigeria, as a Signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES), commits to the implementation and adherence to the CITES laws and regulations as well as to other global agreements, conventions and treaties focused on conservation of biodiversity.
She said: “Nigeria has also played a vital role in the creation of the West Africa strategy on combating wildlife crime, in its position as Chair of the Steering Committee responsible for establishing this important regional strategy.
“We will not relent in our resolve to regularly review, develop and implement the appropriate policy, legal and institutional framework as necessary just as we are taking a bold step towards ensuring adequate implementation of the recently validated National Strategy on Combating Wildlife and Forest Crime in Nigeria, as supported by UNODC, which will be launched in March this year.” Read More...
